December, 2023: Tondora Community Sand Dam Complete!

Tondora Community, 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 also built 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.

13-year-old Patrick Z. said, "I am glad this waterpoint is close to my home, and I will easily fetch water for drinking and washing my hands. There was a shortage of water in the past, and I would accompany my mother to fetch water from distant sources, only to return several hours later feeling exhausted with no food to eat because there was no water to cook or drink. My mother will no longer have to walk several kilometers searching for water, and she will prepare food on time,"

Patrick is excited about the new Sand Dam!

"Walking to the distant sources was draining, and I did not have time to play with my friends or study. My legs would ache because of the long journey and my mother had to gently massage them. I was also often tasked with taking the livestock to drink water at the distant Tana River and had to bear with the pangs of hunger because food was scarce due to water shortage. I am now happy that water is nearby and enough for all of us. I will get enough time to play with my friends and study to achieve better grades," he continued.

Sand Dam Construction Process

The Tondora Umoja Self-Help Group members 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.

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 we reached a sufficient height, width, and length.

Finally, we dismantled the vertical timber beams and left the dam to cure. This dam measures 37 meters long and 3 meters high and took 833 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!

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 be helpful in preventing and controlling diseases through hygiene practices and the construction of sanitation infrastructure. We have also learned about water treatment, which is crucial because most of the water sources in our area are contaminated. We will also be selling soap and earn an income as a group because we have learned how to make it. We will use the acquired income to purchase chickens and thus foster food security," Shared Farmer Stephen Makuru, 66.

Chairperson of the Water User Committee, Stephen.

Veronica Matolo led the training at one of the self-help group members' homes on the agreed-upon date. There was good attendance and lively conversation around many of the topics covered. One of the most memorable topics was "three pile sorting." Veronica explained, "Three-pile sorting is a tool under problem analysis. It is meant to analyze community behaviors. It involves sorting posters into three different piles of different activities happening in the posters: good, in-between, and bad hygiene and sanitation behavior practices. During the training, a donkey started braying behind one of the members, and everyone stood up in surprise. This made the topic memorable."

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. Finally, we covered natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

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!

August, 2023: Tondora Community Sand Dam Project Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Tondora 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!