August, 2024: Katavui Community Hand-Dug Well Complete!

Katavui Community, Kenya, now has a new water source, thanks to your donation! We constructed a new hand-dug well adjacent to a new sand dam on the riverbed. The sand dam will build up sand to raise the water table and naturally filter water, while the well will provide a safer method of drawing drinking water for the community.

It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because sometimes it only rains once a year in this region! As the sand dam matures and stores more sand, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will fill with water.

"The community was enthusiastic about the project and came every day to do the hard labor. They also mobilized the local materials, that is stones, sand, and ballast (rock). They were resilient and hardworking, and even though they encountered challenges such as difficulty in finding the bedrock and looking for stones, they managed to complete the project," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.

16-year-old Tabitha is very excited about the possibilities that come with clean, accessible water!

"I will no longer spend most of my time walking to distant borehole[s] [and] then back home because this water point is very close to my home. We will also have enough water to conduct hygiene duties at home and also cultivate vegetables for subsistence purposes. We will also be drinking clean water that is not saline like the one we used to draw from the borehole," said Tabitha.

"My mother will now be able [to] grow vegetables at home that she will be selling to pay for my school fees. She will also have time to focus on farming because getting water now is much easier," continued Tabitha.

Tabitha.

"I recently finished secondary school, and I am happy that I will be able to join a good nursing school and complete the course as planned because my parents will be able to pay the school fees using the money they get from farming," Tabitha said.

Hand-Dug Well Construction Process

Construction for this well was a success!

We delivered the experts, materials, and tools, but the community helped get an extraordinary amount of work done, too. They collected local materials to supplement the project, including sand, stones, and water. When all the materials were ready, it was time to dig in!

First, we excavated a hole seven feet in diameter up to the recommended depth of 25 feet. (Most hand-dug wells do not reach that depth due to hard rocks between 10-18 feet.) As planned, the diameter shrank to 5 feet when the well lining was complete. This lining is made of brick and mortar with perforations to allow water to seep through. When the well is finished, sand builds up around its walls, which will filter the rainwater stored behind the dam.

Once the lining reached ground level, we laid a precast concrete slab on top of the lining and joined it to the wall using mortar. The concrete dried for two weeks before installation. We fixed four bolts onto the slab during casting in preparation for the hand pump's installation.

Next, the mechanics arrived to install the pump as community members watched, learning how to manage simple maintenance tasks. We installed the pump level with the top of the sand dam. As the dam matures, sand will build up to the top of the wall. Until then, people will use concrete steps to get their water. After installing the pump, we gave the well another few days to let the joints dry.

Well is complete!

For this project, we worked with the Katavui Self-Help Group. The members and their families contributed tremendous amounts of materials and physical labor.

New Knowledge

Our trainer conferred with the field staff about previous household visits and interviews with community members to determine which topics the community could improve upon.

Throughout the three days of training, 12 participants were active and engaged. Trainer Veronica Matolo worked with the group to debunk myths that have been passed down from generation to generation. Then, the group learned about fecal disease transmission routes and how to prevent infection. They now have the tools to lead healthier lives!

Handwash training.

We trained the group on various skills, including bookkeeping, financial management, project management, group dynamics, and governance. We also conducted hygiene and sanitation training to teach skills like soap- and detergent-making and improve behaviors such as handwashing.

We also touched on health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene behaviors, the spread and prevention of disease, and sanitation improvements. We covered natural resource management and the operations and maintenance of the well.

Disease prevention training.

"This training will be so beneficial to us in so many ways, from prevention of diseases through improved hygiene to financial stability at group and personal levels. [The] installation of sanitation infrastructures will help us maintain good hygiene and eradicate common diseases that have been an issue in our community for a while," shared 36-year-old Raphael Muthui.

Raphael.

The knowledge will be shared [with] other people in our area and emphasize so much on the importance of hygienic practices," he concluded.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. When an issue arises concerning the well, the group members are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure it works appropriately. However, if the issue is beyond their capabilities, they can contact their local field officers to assist them.

Also, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program. We walk with each community, problem-solving together when they face challenges with functionality, seasonality, or water quality. Together, all these components help us strive for enduring access to reliable, clean, and safe water for this community.

With your contribution, one more piece has been added to a large puzzle of water projects. In Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, we’re working toward complete coverage. That means reliable, maintained water sources within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. With this in mind, search through our upcoming projects to see which community you can help next!

Thank you for making all of this possible!

June, 2024: Katavui Community Dug Well Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Katavui Community costs people time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!