June, 2023: Kithalani Community Sand Dam Complete!

Kithalani, Kenya, now has access to a new water source, thanks to your donation! We constructed a new sand dam on the riverbed, which will build up sand to raise the water table and naturally filter water over time. We plan to also build a new hand-dug well with a hand pump adjacent to the sand dam, providing the community with a safer method to draw drinking water supplied by the dam.

Sand dam complete!

"We did not have enough water at home for drinking in the past because the scoop holes were far away, and I would often stay thirsty for most of the day. Now this water point is close to my home, and I can drink clean water whenever I need to. I would accompany my mother to the water point sometimes, but we would find long queues at the water point; thus, we would spend several hours fetching water leaving me with little time and energy to play with my friends or study. This water point is nearby and will have adequate water for most of us, so I will no longer have to bear the long queues," shared eight-year-old John M.

John M.

"I had to go and fetch water with my mother during weekends and holidays, and we would return home during the afternoon. Thus, my mother would only prepare one meal per day because [the] water was not enough for cooking. Now we will have enough clean water, and my mother can easily prepare food. My health will improve because I will eat my food on time, and I will no longer waste my energy and time fetching water. I will have more time to study and focus on improving my grades so that one day I can become a pilot," John continued.

Sand Dam Construction Process

The members of the Kwa Kisukio Muthini Self-Help Group collected all of the local materials, like rocks and sand, required to complete the dam. The collection of raw materials takes longer than the actual construction, lasting up to four months for a large sand dam. The group also dedicated their time and energy to support our artisans with physical labor throughout the project.

Material collected.

First, our team drew siting and technical designs and presented them to the Water Resources Management Authority. We also sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before we began construction.

Once the plans were approved, we established firm bedrock at the base of the sand dam wall. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is compact enough to stop seepage.

Next, we mixed and heaped mortar (a mixture of sand, cement, and water) into the foundation, followed by rocks once there was enough mortar. We then used barbed wire and rebar to reinforce the mixture.

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold the sludge and rocks above ground level. Once our first layer dried, we repeated the process until reaching a sufficient height, width, and length.

Timber frame.

Finally, we dismantled the vertical timber beams and left the dam to cure. This dam measures 63 meters long and 4 meters high and took 769 bags of cement to build.

As soon as it rains, the dam will build up sand and store water. With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will provide drinking water to the community. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because in this region, sometimes it only rains once a year!

Completed dam.

New Knowledge

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

"This training will bring a positive effect in the lives of all the members of this group [for] several reasons. One, it has practically shown us the importance of having and using latrines together with handwashing. This will help us in [the] prevention and control of fecal-oral route disease transmission, said 69-year-old farmer Francis Muli.

"We know the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene like brushing [our] teeth, keeping short nails, [and] sleeping in a clean bed, among other activities. Being enlightened on water treatment is another special activity that will be very useful in our lives. Treating water will allow us [to] stay healthy, away from waterborne diseases," Francis continued.

"We’ve also learned that it’s important to eat healthy. This training has shown us the different types of foods that we can source locally. This will also keep us healthy, boost our immunity and be free of diseases. The new skills [we] learned on soap and disinfectant making will help us reduce the cost of living because the money that we’ve been using to buy expensive soap will now be used to buy the soap [ingredients] at a cheaper price. At [a] personal level as well as a group, we will generate income," concluded Francis.

Francis Muli.

Veronica Matolo led the training at the Kithalani church. There was a good turnout for the training, with 35 participants. Trainer Veronica shared that the members who attended the training were very engaged.

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.

Soap making.

We also touched on health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene behaviors, the spread and prevention of disease, and sanitation improvements. Finally, we covered natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

A favorite training topic was during the session on good hygiene practices. The group sorted posters into three piles, good, bad, and undetermined hygiene behaviors. One elderly participant explained how hygiene is very important, especially when handling food. He recounted a scenario where he went to a certain restaurant to order soup, but while being served, he noticed that the person scooped the soup from the pot and then immediately poured it back into the pot. He noticed something strange in the bowl being poured back into the pot that he couldn't identify. He left and has not gone back to that establishment. His story highlighted the necessity of good hygiene practices when preparing food for the group.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. When an issue arises concerning the sand dam, 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!

May, 2023: Kithalani Community Sand Dam Underway!

A severe clean water shortage in Kithalani Community drains people’s time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!