Khabondi Community 3

January, 2025: Khabondi Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

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

"This new waterpoint will help me save on time wastage because I will be using less time drawing water compared to the previous one whereby this new water point the discharge speed has increased after construction. It will also solve the problem of slipperiness because this new waterpoint has [a] stairway that will enable me to have easy accessibility [to] water, and there will be no falling at all. It will solve [the] problem [of] waterborne diseases because of the way it has been constructed. And the issue of surface runoff has been tackled by having cutoff drainage, so I will no longer consume contaminated water," said Beatrice Nyanguka, a 45-year-old farmer.

Beatrice at the newly protected spring.

"Being a farmer, this new waterpoint will help me generate income for my households by planting kale throughout the year, whereby I will be selling them to the nearby market and even supplying to the schools later on, generating some income that will enable me to cater for my children's needs," she continued.

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

9-year-old Bryton shared how the new waterpoint will change his life. "Reliable water will impact my learning at school. I will be having ample time to study, thus improving my academic performance, and it will also help me to be at school on time."

Bryton.

"This new waterpoint will help my parents in terms of irrigation. They will be able to irrigate the crops throughout the year, and as for my teachers, they will have ample time with me because there will be no longer time wastage at all," she continued.

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 participation.

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.

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.

Setting the 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.

Setting stones to protect the spring.

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.

Setting tiles to prevent erosion.

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.

Backfilling the spring reservoir.

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.

Community members planting grass.

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 Khabondi Community.

The spring is protected and safe for use!

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, Joyce, Joy, Selina, Pamela, and Zuura deployed to the site to lead the event. 42 people attended the training, including 33 women and 9 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, which 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.

Field Officer Mercy was impressed with the community's dedication and engagement! There was a representative from every single household in the community, furthering the reach of the knowledge shared and inspiring even greater change.

Oral hygiene lesson.

"Personal hygiene was a topic that was discussed deeply and with a lot of interest. The community members were happy when we taught them how to brush their teeth and keep their bodies clean. [A] memorable discussion was when the trainer asked them how many times they brush their teeth; it [was] during this discussion when we got funny answers, but at the end of [the] training, they promised to adopt the new way of brushing their teeth," Mercy shared.

Pascal at the waterpoint.

18-year-old Pascal shared his experience with the training. "The training had a positive impact on everyone and was highly educative. It has really impacted the community's hygiene by training them on how to keep their environment clean and also how we ensure that we are consuming safe and clean water."

Thank you for making all of this possible!

November, 2024: Exciting Progress in Khabondi Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for the people of Khabondi 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 the Khabondi Community!