July, 2020: COVID-19 Prevention Training Update at Handidi Community, Chisembe Spring

Our teams are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us in our fight against the virus while maintaining access to clean, reliable water.

Two young girls review the informational pamphlet on COVID-19 received at training

We are carrying out awareness and prevention trainings on the virus in every community we serve. Very often, our teams are the first (and only) to bring news and information of the virus to rural communities like Handidi, Kenya.

We trained more than 23 people on the symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention of COVID-19. Due to public gathering concerns, we worked with trusted community leaders to gather a select group of community members who would then relay the information learned to the rest of their family and friends.

Handwashing training

We covered essential hygiene lessons:

- Demonstrations on how to build a simple handwashing station

- Proper handwashing technique

- The importance of using soap and clean water for handwashing

- Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including at the water point.

Handwashing

We covered COVID-19-specific guidance in line with national and international standards:

- Information on the symptoms and transmission routes of COVID-19

- What social distancing is and how to practice it

- How to cough into an elbow

- Alternative ways to greet people without handshakes, fist bumps, etc.

- How to make and properly wear a facemask.

Handwashing

During training, we installed a new handwashing station with soap near the community’s water point, along with a sign with reminders of what we covered.

Due to the rampant spread of misinformation about COVID-19, we also dedicated time to a question and answer session to help debunk rumors about the disease and provide extra information where needed.

Prevention reminders chart installed at the spring

Communtiy member Zachaeus Chisembe said that the spring users had not yet handled the matter of Coronavirus with the seriousness that it deserved since most of them could be seen in crowded places, they were walking outside their homes with no face masks, and the majority of them could be seen touching their eyes, nose, and their mouth every now and then. He said it was good that our team had come to emphasize what was being announced on the radio about COVID-19 prevention, and he hoped that the participants were now going to be keen on doing what is expected of them in order to prevent Coronavirus.

Face mask tutorial

We continue to stay in touch with this community as the pandemic progresses. We want to ensure their water point remains functional and their community stays informed about the virus.

Homemade mask tutorial

Water access, sanitation, and hygiene are at the crux of disease prevention. You can directly support our work on the frontlines of COVID-19 prevention in all of the communities we serve while maintaining their access to safe, clean, and reliable water.

October, 2019: Giving Update: Handidi Community, Chisembe Spring

A year ago, your generous donation helped Handidi Community in Kenya access clean water.

There’s an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water at Chisembe Spring in Handidi. Month after month, their giving supports ongoing sustainability programs that help this community maintain access to safe, reliable water. Read more…

October, 2018: Handidi Community Project Complete

Handidi Community is celebrating their new protected spring, so celebrate with them! Chisembe Spring has been transformed into a flowing source of water thanks to your donation. The spring is protected from contamination, five sanitation platforms have been provided for the community, and training has been done on sanitation and hygiene.

Fridah Khayeri's Story

I was born and brought up in a small village in Vihiga County. We had a river known as River Cheptingun. It was open to all kinds of contamination. Children are so innocent; I never considered the river a threat to my health and I heard my seniors say "water does not have a bad heart."

So, we used to consume the water directly from the source.

Many are the times when my entire family would complain of stomachache and diarrhea - but instead of going to the hospital, we pegged the diseases to witchcraft and opted to take some medicinal herbs that ended up healing us.

When I grew up and was married into Chisembe Village, I found the same scenario. And since this time around I was informed on the importance of accessing clean and safe water for consumption, I really wished our spring could be protected so that my children should never undergo the kind of life I underwent.

My wishes and struggles were in vain since as a community, we were unable to mobilize all the needed materials to protect it.

I am more than excited to see my wishes achieved today! Seeing Chisembe Spring protected and the entire community accessing clean water is worth shedding tears of joy. My children will no longer suffer due to consuming dirty water, and long life is their portion.

Spring Protection

The eagerness of the community to access clean and safe water made the entire construction process go smoothly. It was easy for our trainers and artisans to work here without challenge.

"The protection of the Chisembe Spring is quite an achievement to all people in this community," said Sarah Amuyunzu.

"As a community, we have suffered for decades in terms of consuming dirty water and a lack of proper information on water, sanitation, and hygiene. I am more than excited to be accessing clean and safe water as the problems of being sick and wasting time at the spring is now history."

Construction Process:

Community members provided all locally available construction materials, e.g bricks, wheelbarrows of clean sand, wheelbarrows of ballast, and gravel. Community members also hosted our artisans for the duration of construction.

The spring area was excavated with jembes, hoes, and spades to create space for setting the foundation of polyethylene, wire mesh, and concrete.

After the base had been set, both wing walls and the headwall were set in place using brickwork. The discharge pipe was fixed low in place through the headwall to direct the water from the reservoir to the drawing area.

As the wing walls and headwall cured, the stairs were set and ceramic tiles were fixed directly below the discharge pipe. This protects the concrete from the erosive force of the falling water and beautifies the spring. The process of plastering the headwall and wing walls on both sides reinforces the brickwork and prevents water from the reservoir from seeping through the walls and allows pressure to build in the collection box to push water up through the discharge pipe.

The source area was filled up with clean stones and sand and covered with a polyethylene membrane to eliminate any potential sources of contamination.

The concrete dried over the course of five days. With this spring now handed over to the community, we will continue to follow up with the water user committee to make sure everything runs smoothly. As we arrived to take final pictures, the chairman of the water committee had already collected the fencing poles they'd need to protect the area.

Sanitation Platforms

All five sanitation platforms have been installed and make wonderful, easy to clean latrine floors. These five families are happy about this milestone of having a latrine of their own. We are continuing to encourage families to finish building walls and roofs over their new latrine floors.

New Knowledge

Hygiene and sanitation training was planned with the help of the village elder who went door to door informing his community about the importance of attending. The participants were recruited from each home, with at least one person to represent each home. A total of 37 participants attended the training, out of which 19 were men and 18 were women.

Training was conducted at the spring construction site. Many of the participants were amazed at what was going on at their spring, so they suggested this venue so they could monitor the good progress. There was a high level of participation as people kept on asking for clarification. One man named William Buruti was hilarious, entertaining the participants by asking funny questions about every topic.

We covered several topics including but not limited to leadership and governance (participants started a water and sanitation committee); operation and maintenance of the spring; healthcare; family planning; immunizations; the spread of disease and prevention. We also covered water treatment methods, personal care like handwashing, environmental hygiene, and hygiene promotion. These participants will become ambassadors of healthy living among their own families and their greater community.

"People perish due to lack of information. Personally, the training has equipped me with more information than I ever imagined I would acquire," said Mrs. Brenda Muhambo.

"Most of the homes are going to experience a turnaround and their lives are going to change for the better."

July, 2018: Developments in Handidi Community

Field Officer Jacklyne has been making constant visits to Handidi in preparation for training and spring protection. This last visit, she made a surprising discovery. The landowner of Mwangu Spring took a shortcut and attempted to build a spring protection system for himself. Jacklyne reports that the results of his efforts are not up to our standard, and so the people of Handidi have come forward with an alternative spring. Once the owner of Mwangu Spring is open to greater cooperation, we will consider rebuilding his spring protection so that it provides reliable clean water.

We have added pictures of nearby Chisembe Spring, where the community members have said they are willing to work alongside Jacklyne and our artisans to build a spring protection that will be effective and long-lasting.