Rehabilitation Project
This is our second year working with the Katalwa Twooka Oyu Self-Help Group. We installed a dug well and hand-pump alongside a sand dam to help households in Nzalae Community access safe water. This year, we plan to move up the river to Ilandi Community.
Since we estimate a well can support no more than 500 people, more work needs to be done to ensure this region of more than 2,000 can access safe water. That is why we work together with a group for five years to build sustainable water and sanitation solutions in their villages.
Water in most parts of Kitui County is collected from unsafe open scoop holes in sandy seasonal rivers using 20-liter plastic jerrycans. This group draws water from their first shallow well. It is then loaded onto donkeys or some carry on their backs – especially those from households which cannot afford a donkey.
Some members of the community live far from the already installed water project. They’re therefore exposed to the long distances and fatigue arising from journeys to the source. It also means that they are more likely to collect water from closer scoop holes. Implementing more projects evenly within these villages will help bring water closer to everyone.
“Over the past year, things have been doing pretty quite well with our first dam and well providing us with substantial amount water,” Mrs. Mary Nzoka said to us.
“However, some of us are still far from the project and we are looking to implement the next projects near those affected so as to bring water close to everyone”
This community has high levels of poverty with the majority of households unable to afford high capacity storage containers for their water.
The community showed commendable commitment to work on development projects and after asking for another project it was easy to approve and continue working with them. Their aim is to avail water near all the members of their group in order to widen the scope of water that reaches them thus improving their livelihoods.
What we plan to do about it:
Our main entry point into Ilandi Community has been the Katalwa Twooka Oyu Self-Help Group, which is comprised of local farming households that are working together to address water and food scarcity in their region. These members will be our hands in feet in both constructing water projects and spreading the message of good hygiene and sanitation to everyone.
Training
We’re going to continue training the self-help group and their communities 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 handwashing will all be a focus 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.
This well will be located in Ilandi Village and will bring clean water closer to families having to walk long distances for their water.
