This project is part of Bridge Water Project's program in Western Kenya. What follows is direct from them:
BACKGROUND
The proposed Mayungu Church of God started in the year 1958 with aim of ministering the word of God to the members of Mayungu Community and neighboring communities. Currently the Mayungu church is a Regional Centre which gathers 21 churches which submit under its Administration under Ingotse Mission.
The Mayungu Church of God has a mission of eradicating illiteracy in the area where it serves and to achieve its goal it is mainly targeting young children of Mayungu community, both its members and non-church members, especially who have attained school going age 4-6 years. The programme will also target adults who will be involved in the Bible and Literacy Leaque where church members will be camping at Mayungu Church of God Compound during Bible study sessions.
Many times the church management tried to implement this programme but lack of quality water supply to sustain the programme has remained a challenge. The church management therefore learned of Bridge Water Project Development Activities in the water sector and made an appeal requesting BWP to drill a borehole to access quality water and be able to implement its desired projects to the glory of God.
CURRENT WATER SOURCE
Mayungu Church of God currently fetch water from Mutenyo stream located 700 metres away from the church compound. The stream is seasonal and dries up. During rain season it is filled up by floods hence causing contamination. As a result, water users from the community around suffer from waterborne diseases like Typhoid, Amoeba, Cholera, and Diarrohea.
Whenever the church has a function, women have stay longer in the stream since the recharge is very low and at times women rebel to their church leaders when they are asked to fetch water for use during seminars other church functions.
POPULATION
The church total population is 225 members; 150 adults and 75 Sunday school children while the community has 35 households with an average of 6-8 people per house; approximately 450 people.
HYGIENE & SANITATION
There’s a big permanent church building that is washed ones per month; a semi-permanent building (Early Childhood Development Centre) classrooms (ECD) which is smeared occasionally with cow dung applied on the floor; 1 pit latrine block with 4 doors, 2 for male and 2 for female which is washed every Sunday and daily during school days since pupils use the same with their E.C.D teachers. There are no hand washing stations nor composite pit.
ASSESSING THE NEED
There’s need to drill a borehole for the proposed Mayungu Church of God and Community to enable them access quality water for their domestic use, which is aimed at improving Sanitation and Hygiene status. Also, with a reliable water supply the church will have time to serve its members effectively as it should. The well will also bring about the behavior change.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
If the well is drilled, members of Mayungu Church of God, Early Childhood Development Centre pupils and the member of Mayungu Community will be the beneficiaries.
WATER COMMITTEE
The water committee is already formed and is comprised of both church management and community village elders.
RISKS
- Poor road network
- Bad weather conditions
- Poor political stability
- Culture barrier