This project is a part of our shared program with Safe Water and Sustainable Hygiene Initiative (SAWASHI). Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).
Background Information
Machemo Village is located in Chimuche Location, East Kabras Division, Malava Sub-County of Kakamega North County. There are approximately 30 different households each with five to seven family members. These people belong to a Kabras tribe that still follow traditions and a strict culture. They believe that women should be in charge of all domestic chores around the household, and that men are solely in charge of providing food.
In 1986, a hand-dug well was made by the Finland Company. Their purpose was to reduce the long distances women had to walk for water, as well as the cases of waterborne diseases in the village. In 2009, the well's pump was stolen and never recovered. Since then, the community members broke the well pad in order to lower a rope and bucket to fetch water. Because the well is now open, the water has been re-contaminated and cases of disease are on the rise. The community has asked for help installing a new pump to counter this outbreak.
Current Water Source
The community depends on that same contaminated borehole, which is easily contaminated by the containers lowered to draw water. The water is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and farming.
There is a second shallow well in the area. This well is not reliable as it often runs dry. Unfotunately, its original construction was not suitable for rahabilitation.
Hygiene and Sanitation
A large percentage of the population has been diagnosed with typhoid or diarrhea-related sicknesses. This is a result of both drinking dirty water and handling food improperly.
Though men and women have a little bit of knowledge about good hygiene, they don't practice it because of negative attitudes. Most community members have ignored good behaviors and are in need of training to deal with attitudes about proper hand-washing, handling food and its preparation, water storage, and personal hygiene.
Water Committee
The community has elected people to form a strong Water Committee. This committee will be in charge of managing and maintaining the rehabilitated well.
Training Sessions
The village elder helped ensure that there was at least one member of every village household present at training. Participants gathered around the old well for three full days of training: the first two days educated community members about good hygiene and sanitation, and the final day was for formation and education of a water user committee. The facilitator observed that there were more women than men, and the women were more interactive. This is probably because the community believes that women should be in charge of water and hygiene issues within the home. In fact, the men seemed hesitant to attend training because of this traditional belief.
The topics covered during the hygiene and sanitation days included:
- Proper hand-washing
- Water-handling and storage
- Food preparation and storage
- Water treatment methods
- Preventing waterborne diseases (specifically diarrhea and typhoid)
- Developing positive attitudes about hygiene and sanitation
The facilitator often referred to posters that illustrated both good and bad hygiene practices. Participants discussed these with partners and in larger groups. They also had the chance to take a transect walk, an activity that highlights the present sanitation conditions around the community and motivates community members to make necessary improvements.
After training, community members had more positive attitudes. Every member of each household vowed to change the kind of lifestyle they had lived before. At one point, a husband and wife were reminding each other of their individual responsibilities to have a clean and hygienic home. Men resolved to keep their compounds clean as the women ensured that water will be stored safely.
On the third day of training, the water user committee was formed and strengthened to oversee the operation and maintenance of this water project. The committee will draft rules for proper behavior around the water point and will also ensure that community members contribute a fee saved for any future repairs. If they encounter any problems, they are to contact the SAWASHI head office. After a period of three months, the village will be revisited to check if community members continue to practice what they were taught.
Project Result: Rehabilitated Hand-Dug Well
Construction began on January 24. The construction team was comprised of four men who worked over the course of three days. The well pad was so old that it had many deep cracks, especially around the pump, which allows for contamination of the well water. The team mixed new plaster to reconstruct the well pad, and then left it to cure.
Community members also had their hand in the construction process, providing meals for the construction team for two days. The locals feared that the construction materials might draw the eyes of thieves, so they also provided security during this project. "This time, we will not sleep. Instead, we will build a kiosk for a watchman to guard the well. We don't ever want to drink dirty water again," says community member Everlyne Mulupi. Water quality will be tested on February 5, and the project implementor will return on April 5 to ensure the rehabilitated well is still drawing clean water.
The Water Project and people of Machemo Village Thank You for unlocking potential!
