Rehabilitation Project
We’ve teamed up with Kianguni Self-Help Group, which is composed of workers and farmers who are fighting against water and food scarcity in their region. A majority of its members are from Katung’uli Community, where they’ve already implemented one successful sand dam and well system. But with a region populated by thousands, there are more water, sanitation, and hygiene opportunities.
Some 68% of the group members say that they rely on casual labor as their main source of income, which involves doing odd jobs on other people’s businesses or farms. This is regardless of their level of education. We learned from our interviews that those involved in casual labor are the most literate.
Only 14% of the respondents own their own farms. However, their income is seasonal, and therefore not reliable. The rest have small businesses that require them to travel to the market every day. Only 5% of the community manages to make over 10,000 shillings ($100) a month.
Water
Kianguni Group has successfully installed a sand dam and well system along with a sandy riverbed. Dozens of families are now getting their water from this system, but Katung’uli Community is in need of more clean water options. This water source is busy and is still far away from many other families living on the other side of the village.
That’s why Kianguni Group has united with us to continue installing clean water systems in their area.
Those not living close enough to the clean water system are still getting their water from open holes dug in the ground. Common diseases like typhoid, bilharzia, and ringworm plague community members after they drink water from these open holes.
Sanitation
More and more households are building latrines, though many of these are basic and vary depending on the means of the family. Some don’t have doors, but just have a curtain hanging in the opening. After last year’s training, community members learned how to build a “tippy tap,” a hand-washing station made of a plastic container, sticks, and rope.
During our household visits, Mrs. Mutula and Mrs. Kanyau were gracious in letting us take pictures.
What we’re going to do:
Training
We’re going to continue training Katung’uli Community on hygiene and sanitation practices. Though our visits to households were encouraging, we want to ensure that community members are practicing the day to day habits we’re not able to observe. Food hygiene, water hygiene and treatment, personal hygiene and hand-washing will all be focused on during our next review.
Hand-Dug Well
This particular hand-dug well is being built adjacent to this group’s ongoing sand dam project (click here to see), which will supply clean drinking water once it rains. We have supplied the group with the tools needed for excavation. With the guidance of our artisans and mechanics, the excavated well will be cased, sealed with a well pad, and then finished with a new AfriDev pump.
Excavation takes a month or more on average, depending on the nature of the rock beneath. Construction of the well lining and installation of the pump takes 12 days maximum. The well will be lined with a concrete wall including perforations so that once it rains, water will filter in from the sand dam.
With these projects, clean water will be brought closer to hundreds living around Katung’uli, including the Kanyau and Mutula families.
This project is a part of our shared program with Africa Sand Dam Foundation. Our team is pleased to provide the reports for this project (edited for clarity) thanks to the hard work of our friends in Kenya.
