Borehole Well and Hand Pump
Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
When the team arrived, 157 families and a Community Center were dependent on unprotected hand dug wells, unprotected spring and various forms of surface water all located a kilometer outside the community to sustain the entirety of their water needs. The community’s access and use of pit latrines, a pit latrine with a slab and VIP latrines coupled with access to a safe water source will help prevent further spread of disease in the area. Behavioral change is a desired outcome and often times the most difficult to achieve. But with sustained and proper hygiene promotion the likelihood of communities adopting new practices to better their health and sustain their water source increases. There are Community Health Workers serving in Gacuriro Community to provide basic medical and preventive care. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a Water Committee and Community Health Club who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, supplied any materials they had available and provided security for the team. Most residents are of Protestant or Catholic faith and with continued cultivation from the local Protestant, Catholic and Adventist churches, the Good News will continue to be shared with the unreached. There are several other NGOs working in Gacuriro Community including: Care International, SNV and Compassion International. These NGOs are working to provide family planning guidance, and social, economic and health education and promoting childhood education.
Using the Living Water Traditional Method, the team addressed with 123 community members: Disease Transmission, Germs, Healthy and Unhealthy Communities, Hand Washing-Proper Techniques and Water Saving Methods, Latrine Perception, Tippy Tap, Proper Care of Pump and Keeping the Water Clean. After the Hygiene Promotion, the community with support from Community Health Workers constructed tippy taps and a VIP latrine for single household use.
The Living Water Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with 28 year old community member and farmer, Pascaline Nyinawumaugabo, who stated, "This water well is so near and in our neighborhood. We are so privileged to have clean water near us. We used to walk a long distance in search for water but now you can even fetch during night time without risking your life."
