Rehabilitation Project
Our implementing partner reports...
"When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a river to meet all of their water needs and because of this, residents were suffering from cholera, dysentery, typhoid, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration. During the team's stay, community members assisted the team with the water project whenever possible. The majority of
community members sustain a living by farming and selling their produce at local markets. The nearest school is a vocational school located in the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided community member, Shabban Ali, with a LWI Rwanda contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.
The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with thirty-five year old community member and vocational school director, Shabban Ali, who stated, "The old water source was very dirty, not treated and smelled bad. I enjoy the new water source because it is inside the compound and it is clean."
The LWI Rwanda team shared an introductory hygiene lesson with 400 students, faculty and community members. During the hygiene education, the team addressed the following principle issues: Disease transmission, Germs, Hand Washing- proper techniques and water saving methods, Healthy Unhealthy Communities, Oral Rehydration Solution, Proper care of the pump, Keeping the water clean, Tippy Tap- simple hand washing devise, community mapping- identifying hygiene behaviors, Good-bad hygiene behaviors, Disease Transmission Stories and Dental Hygiene.
LWI Rwanda team member, Philip Rukamba, shared the story of the woman at the well, drawing a parallel between our physical need for water and our spiritual need for Living Water. Before leaving the community, the team had an opportunity to establish a partnership with the local church who will continue to cultivate community members after the team leaves the area and shared oral Bible stories with community families.
