Rehabilitation Project
There are 224 residents of the Kapchemgung community who rely on the Johnstone Erego Spring. The spring needs to be repaired to ensure the community members are drinking safe water.
13-year-old Astings has experienced water insecurity for most of his life. He has big goals, but without clean water access, his efforts are consistently waylaid by water-related illnesses and time wasted trying to collect water.
"Every time I drink dirty water, I get sick. During the time I was sick, I had a problem with my stomach. I lost [the] desire to eat and could only eat soft food like potatoes and drink porridge," Astings shared.
"I had to miss school because I was sick. Concentrating [in] class can be a problem because sometimes I vomit. In this state, my friends will not be comfortable learning while seated next to me," he added.
Even when he isn't sick, Astings spends up to two hours a day just collecting water. This steals time that could be spent studying or playing with his friends.
"Fetching water may not be [the] same every day, depending on the distance I cover, going from the first round to the last. Immediately [as] I leave the water source, another person comes, and by the time I return, I have to wait till he or she finishes fetching water. Combining all these times, [it] will sum up to the 2 hours spent per day to fetch water," Astings declared.
To make a hard situation worse, Astings is often subject to bullying by older children and even sometimes adults at the water point.
"Big boys bullied me and wanted [me to] pour my water into their containers, as I was the only younger one at the spring," Astings bravely shared.
Despite the challenges he faces daily, he is a young man with innate integrity and a desire to make the world a better place.
"I want to be a responsible citizen in [the] future, who can solve other people's problems, without selection based on age or gender," he said.
Astings at the spring.
We asked Astings how he felt when he was sent to the spring to fetch water for his family. Even knowing the hardship he would face, Asting was grateful for the experience and the water.
"Being part of roles given to me by my seniors, I enjoy going to the water source and fetching water for my family," he proudly said.
Just imagine what he can do with clean water access. With two more hours in his day to study and play, he can enjoy his childhood and pursue his dreams.
"With the presence of a new waterpoint, I will drink safe, clean water, free from contamination," Astings said. "For maximum safety, I will use [a] chlorine dispenser available to treat the water."
Field Officer Wilson Kipchoge said, "The spring is in a bad state and needs urgent action to make it safer for the community to use. Community members are looking forward to playing any role assigned to them to ensure that the water source is properly constructed. Our presence brought a sense of hope to this community, who are very eager to see their waterpoint protected."
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to safeguard the existing flowing spring.
Spring Protection
Springs are natural water sources that originate from deep underground. As water travels through various layers of the earth, it undergoes a natural filtration process, making it cleaner and safer to drink. To protect these spring sources from contamination, we construct a waterproof cement structure around layers of clay, stone, and soil. This design channels the spring water through a discharge pipe, facilitating easier, faster, and cleaner water collection.
Chlorine Dispenser
As an extra measure towards water quality safety, uniquely engineered chlorine dispensers are installed at all of our spring protection projects so community members can treat their water with pre-measured doses of chlorine. The chlorine treats any possible contamination and stays active for two to three days, ensuring water stays safe to use even when stored at home. Chlorine delivery and maintenance of the dispensers are part of our ongoing community support.
Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community.
Encouraged and supported by our team's guidance, the community elects a water user committee representative of its diverse members. This committee assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, organizing community efforts, and gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
