February, 2025: Ematetie Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Ematetie Community possible!

We transformed their spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water, installed a chlorine dispenser to provide added protection, and trained the community on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for community members to thrive!

"With this water being more accessible, I will be able to save a lot of time in fetching water and concentrate more on expanding my farm to produce more vegetables and food by irrigating my farm faster so that I sell and get money for my family. I have children [and] they will be able to access safe water, which will help them live healthy lives, free from waterborne diseases, and will not be absent from school due to water-related illnesses. It will save the money that was being used for medication, which will be used for other expenses," shared 43-year-old Mildred Nasimiyu.

Mildred (left) celebrating clean water!

Children were just as excited as adults about clean water access!

14-year-old Gideon shared the impact on his life. "This reliable water will help me be able to access safe water, and I will not fall sick from typhoid like before it was constructed. I used to get typhoid, [it] even caused me to be absent from school and drop in my grades. Now that the water is safe, I will be able to concentrate on my studies and improve my grades so as to be a doctor," Gideon said.

Gideon enjoying clean water access!

Preparing for Spring Protection

Community members worked together to source all locally available construction materials for the spring. These included bricks, sand, stones, and fencing poles. Because people have to carry most items by hand, the material-collection process can take anywhere from a few weeks to months.

Community members gathering materials.

When the community was ready, we delivered the remaining construction materials, including cement, plastic tarps, and hardware. Then, our construction artisan and field officers deployed to the spring to begin work.

Protecting the Protecting the Spring: A Step-by-Step Process

First, we excavated the spring area. This includes digging a drainage channel below the spring and several runoff diversion channels above and around the spring to help divert surface contaminants away.

Excavating to prep for the foundation.

To ensure community members could still access water throughout the construction process, we also dug temporary channels around the construction site to allow water to continue to flow. Excavation created space for setting the spring's foundation.

After establishing the base, made of thick plastic, wire, concrete and waterproof cement, we started brickwork to build the spring walls and stairs. Once the walls were tall enough, we began one of the most crucial steps: setting the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe needs to be positioned low enough so the water level never rises above the spring's eye, yet high enough to allow room for the average collection container (20-liters) to sit beneath the pipe without making contact, to prevent cross-contamination.

Setting the discharge pipe.

If we place the pipe too high, back pressure could force water to emerge elsewhere. Too low, and community members would not be able to access the water easily.

In coordination with the walls and stairs, we cemented stones on both sides of the spring's drainage channel. These stones discourage people and animals from standing in that area, which could cause soil erosion and a clogged drainage area.

Cementing stones on either side of the spring to prevent erosion.

We then cemented and plastered the spring walls. These finishing layers reinforce the brickwork and prevent water in the reservoir from seeping through. In turn, enough pressure builds to push water out through the discharge pipe.

Plastering the walls.

As the walls cured, we finished the stairs and installed tiles beneath the discharge pipe. The tiles protect the concrete from the falling water's erosive force.

We redirected the temporary diversion channels back into the reservoir box and closed all other exits to force water through only the discharge pipe. We filled the reservoir area with the large, clean stones arranging them in layers like a well-fitting puzzle. We covered the rocks with thick plastic and piled enough dirt on top to compensate for future settling.

Layering stones to prevent erosion and protect the water quality.

Community members transplanted grass to help prevent erosion and the collection area was fenced. The fence prevents people or animals from walking in the area above the spring, as compaction of this area can potentially compromise water quality.

The construction process took about two weeks of work and patience. As soon as the spring was ready, people got the okay from their local field officers to fetch water.

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Ematetie Community.

Happiness and thanksgiving flowed in all directions!

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

Together with the community, we found their preferred date for training. When the day arrived, facilitators Mercy Wamalwa, Joy Ongeri, and Mercy Odongo deployed to the site to lead the event. 13 people attended the training, including nine women and four men.

Training.

We discussed personal, oral, and environmental hygiene, emphasizing proper water handling, soap-making, and the ten steps of handwashing. We also highlighted the importance of primary health care and covered the operation and maintenance of the water point, as well as leadership and governance. By the end of the training, each participant had a clear understanding of their role in maintaining clean water and promoting good health within their community.

We held an election for the newly formed water user committee who will oversee the maintenance of the spring. We brainstormed income-generating activities and encouraged them to start a group savings account for future minor repairs to the spring.

We asked facilitator Joy Ongeri what was the topic that made the biggest impression on the community. She said, "Income generating activity was a critical topic to the community members because they couldn't understand why they should contribute money yet the water is free and theirs where they have been consuming it [has been] free. The trainer was able to clarify that the money was not meant for the organization but for their own benefit. She continued to tell them that the contributed money would help them to start up an income-generating activity like rearing poultry, farming, or even doing businesses like soap making, which would help increase their income and improve their standards of living. After an explanation from the facilitator, they all changed their minds and became receptive and agreed with this, and even agreed as a group to contribute 50 Kenyan shillings for their course."

26-year-old Roseline Achieng thoroughly enjoyed the hygiene and sanitation training. She said, "Personal hygiene is a topic I enjoyed most where I learned that we need to take care of our bodies so we can live long and healthy lives. To do so, we have to bathe every day, wear clean clothes to prevent skin infections, and also to hang our undergarments outside and not inside the house to prevent irritation and infections. With this new knowledge I will be hanging my undergarments and ensure my family does the same for us to live a healthy life."

Roseline (right) celebrates the spring's protection.

"I have been able to know that some of the practices we do as a community, especially me, are just myths and culture which has caused us to compromise our proper personal hygiene practices," Roseline concluded.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

December, 2024: Exciting Progress in Ematetie Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Mildred and the entire Ematetie Community. Construction has begun on the spring protection project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in Ematetie Community!