Rehabilitation Project
The Malimali Community, home to 245 people, depends on a spring that once offered safe water. Today, overuse and breakdown have left families also relying on other unsafe sources, sacrificing their health, time, and opportunities.
Everyone waits for a turn to fill their jerrycans.
Everyone here makes sacrifices—of their time, health, income, and education. They wait for hours in line to fetch water that regularly makes them ill, and when they contract typhoid or other water-related diseases, working and going to school become difficult. When they are unable to work, their incomes become meager, and students fall behind in school.
At just 8 years old, Jentrice spends two hours each day fetching water. She often waits in long lines, risks slipping in muddy conditions, and sometimes faces unkindness born out of desperation.
Jentrice.
The water crisis in the Malimali Community is draining the joy out of her childhood.
"Many people rely on the same spring, causing long wait times as they try to fill multiple containers at once," Jetrice shared.
Jentrice awaits her chance to collect water.
Her education suffers.
"Fetching water from our current waterpoint is cumbersome and time-consuming, which takes time away from my studies. Every evening after school, fetching water becomes my daily routine, hindering my ability to have enough time for homework and studying," Jentrice lamented.
Jentrice hauls water home.
Tensions run high, as you can imagine. Everyone is just doing their best to survive, but that often means the longer people wait, the more their judgment is jaded.
Jetrice has experienced unkindness at the spring.
"I remember a time when I waited for a long time at the waterpoint before it was my turn. After I had filled my jerrycans, a woman came up and emptied one of my containers into hers. I felt really bad, but there wasn't much I could do since she was an adult. This feels like the norm lately, and it's honestly quite frustrating. It leaves me feeling really disheartened," she recalled.
In normal circumstances, this might not be Jetrice's story, but given the crisis, people get desperate.
"Every time I go to fetch water, I have to step into water at the collection point, which is very disheartening and frustrating. During the rainy season, the surrounding environment becomes muddy and slippery, creating a risk of falls and injuries," she said.
Jentrice tries to avoid stepping in the stagnant water.
This should not be Jentrice’s story. With the right support, her future—and the community’s future—can change.
Protecting the spring will give her time and energy back. She can attend school and study without wasting time waiting in line. Her health will be assured, and hopefully, she will have time to play again.
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 the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
