April, 2025: Esikura Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Esikura 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 waterpoint will solve so many problems for me; I have been facing a lot of challenges, among them is [that] I have been drinking contaminated water for so long, but now that this waterpoint is implemented, water is now clean and safe for my health. I have been wasting much time fetching water from here, but now that it's constructed, there will be no long queues. A 20-liter container is now taking a few seconds to be filled. Initially, we could queue here, and in the process of fetching water, you could find us quarreling with each other because water could take a lot of time to fill a 20-liter container, but now this has come to an end because of [a] high discharge spring," said Dorcas Ambetsa, a 50-year-old farmer.

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

"I will be in school on time, unlike before when I spent [the] better part of my morning in the spring fetching water for my grandmother before going to school. I will be able to attend my evening preps at school to study and have group discussions, unlike before when I would abscond preps to come and queue for water back home. Spending time revising will make a positive change in my results," said 18-year-old Sospeter.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Esikura 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 Odongo, Mercy Wamalwa, Elvine Atsieno, Joy Ongeri, Adelaide Nasimiyu, and David Mulinge deployed to the site to lead the event. 35 people attended the training, including 27 women and 8 men.

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.

"This training has helped me realize that good hygiene starts with me. [I] am able to train my fellow community members about WaSH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene). From today henceforth, I will encourage my fellow [community members] to keep our waterpoint clean. After training [in] on-site management, we now know the importance of unblocking drainage channels regularly and keeping the entire site clean. I will train a few who missed this training so that we can be able to keep it in practice," said Dorcas, who was quoted earlier.

"Soapmaking was interesting because it was my first time learning how to make soap at home. I have been using a lot of money buying soap, which was more diluted, and now that I know how to make it, it will help us as a community to grow together. We will make soap and sell [it] to other communities and will talk to headteachers from different schools to give us tenders of supplying liquid soap to them."

Thank you for making all of this possible!

February, 2025: Exciting Progress in Esikura Community, Thanks to You!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Dorcas and the entire Esikura 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 Esikura Community!