Rehabilitation Project
The Lunyiko Community is home to 700 people who depend on a single water source, Wekelo Spring, for their daily water needs. As you can imagine, this crumbling, overstretched water source often means long queues and mounting frustration. But beyond the inconvenience lies something even more devastating: the persistent waterborne illnesses that plague the community.
For 14-year-old Dismas, the water crisis is not just a community issue—it’s a personal battle. He said, "I have been diagnosed with typhoid, it's like four times a year, and this is due to [the] intake of unsafe and unclean water."
He continued to tell his story. "The first time, I was extremely sick and I was admitted at our nearby dispensary in order for the doctors to monitor my progress."
Unfortunately for Dismas, this wasn't a one-time event. He continued to get sick again and again, even with his family boiling water to make it safer to consume. Going to school became the last priority when his health was struggling.
"I have to miss school whenever [I] am sick, and this made me not to concentrate on my studies, thus lowering my academic performance," Dismas lamented.
But it’s not only Dismas’ health and education that have been disrupted. His entire family has paid the price.
"Since this waterpoint broke down, so many things have changed. My mother was a business person, but due to sickness, she had to spend everything she had on our medication, thus making her not [earn] anything at all," Dismas declared.
There never seems to be an end to the hardship.
"I feel so frustrated when [I] am sent to fetch water because I always know how much time [I] am going to waste there and also the struggle I will go through before fetching water," he shared.
Another community child uses a wheelbarrow to haul water up the hill.
When he does make the trek to collect water that he knows will make him sick, he waits in long lines, often getting pushed to the back because he is young.
"Because of long queues at the water source, because it really serves [a] large number of people from this community, [and] secondly, what makes fetching take long is because [I] am a child and people tend to look down upon me and they tend to push me back so that I can wait," Dismas said.
"If I didn't have to spend all that time at the spring fetching water, I would put my concentration on my studies so as to ensure that I have improved on my academic performance, and I can have enough time to go and play with my friends," he shared.
Dismas deserves to experience clean water and a life where he can attend school regularly and not worry about having to skip school to wait in line to collect water that makes him sick. Even in the midst of frustration and sickness, Dismas has dreams.
"My plans for my future is that I want to pass my exams with flying colors and by the will of God, I [will] become a doctor so that I can be able to save [the] lives of people who are affected by contaminated water," Dismas courageously shared.
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 residual 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.
