Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: Nov 2011

Project Features


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Community Profile

The people of Kigazi have been desperate for water. Their nearest source is 10 kilometers away from their community and is little more than a ground-water-fed mud puddle. The vice mayor of social affairs for Nyagatare district, Charlotte Musabyimana, asked LWI Rwanda if we could help. Upon visiting the community, the team decided it was immediately necessary. The Kigazi well has a water committee consisting of a church representative, the village chief, and a village layman. The water committee has opened a bank account which will be used to fund repairs in the future, ensuring the sustainability and financial ownership of the project. Living Water International has also enlisted this well in its operation and maintenance program which will make quarterly visits to the site to ensure the pump remains operable and to do follow up health and hygiene training with the community along with telling Bible stories, praying with the community, and strengthening ties with the local church. When the team arrived, community members were suffering from malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. Most community members sustain their families by raising livestock; mostly cattle. The nearest school is located five kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. During the team’s stay, community members assisted the team with the
water project whenever possible.

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with twenty-seven year old community member and farmer, Deo Biziyaremie, who stated, "We have been trekking to Akagera National Park, which is 10 kilometers away, to gather dirty water. Now we have a water source right here in our village! Thank you God!"

LWI Rwanda team member, Melchizedek Keoye, taught health and hygiene principles to 60 people in the village of Kigazi. During the hygiene education, the team addressed: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, proper water saving methods, causes of diarrhea, Oral Rehydration Solution, how to take proper care of the pump, how to keep the water clean, community mapping and identifying good and bad hygiene behavior, disease transmission stories, clean hands and clean hearts and dental hygiene.

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Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


We have been trekking to Akagera National Park, which is 10 kilometers away, to gather dirty water. Now we have a water source right here in our village! Thank you God!

Deo B. - Farmer

Sponsors


23 individual donors
In Honor of Hannah Kanfer
Sadaqa
Union High School Key Club, Tulsa, OK
St. Paul Lutheran Church, IL
Heritage High School
Murrieta Valley High School - Philanthropy Challenge
Franklin Pierce High School ASB
Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra Shas Mitzvah Corps
New Hope Middle School
North Atlanta High School
Isabella's Fundraising Page
Natalie Roh's Fundraising Page