Rehabilitation Project
The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in the Nyakatiti Kalwala Village in Uganda:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Nyakatiti Kalwala is one of the four zones that comprise Nyakatiti local council which is located in Mboira parish, Kigumba sub-county, Kiryandongo district. The Water Trust has held a number of successful partnerships in this parish, the most recent being in Aparacel village which neighbors this village where a shallow hand dug well was recently installed and the community has since enjoyed clean and safe water. This hilly village with gentle slopes is largely a farming area with many small garden plots owned by residents of the area. In some parts of the village, some families rear cattle which supply fresh milk to other village members. Cassava, beans, maize and soya beans are the major crops grown in the village and these find a ready market in Kigumba town council located 4km away. This village is however starved of clean and safe water for domestic use. Residents fetch water from open sources which are also shared by both birds and domestic animals in the village.
Mr. Kirya Eriya, 40yrs and born in this village, says it will be the first time for this village to access clean and safe water when the partnership comes through. He revealed to us in an interview how residents grapple to access drinking water. "The nearest protected water source is located 2km away in Aparacel village and has just been constructed by TWT and it takes us 2 hours to collect water from this source." Due to this challenge, residents of this village fetch water from the nearby open sources which are contaminated and said to be the leading cause of the rampant water borne related illnesses. Arising from a successful partnership between TWT and the residents of Aparacel village coupled with other success stories from the neighboring villages within this parish where we have been working, the community mobilized its self through the village chairman and applied for partnership to construct a shallow hand dug water source in this village and have since mobilized locally available materials like sand, bricks, hardcore and have pledged to provide accommodation to a technician we shall send to work with them in the process of constructing the water source.
The Water Trust (TWT) will have an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation in this village. The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the meantime the aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to the practice of open defecation, faeces are spread all over the village and contaminate open water sources. Our aim is to ensure that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable waterborne diseases. We strive to work in partnership with the community to access safe clean water and improved sanitation.
SANITATION AND HYGIENE STRATEGY
The main objectives of TWT's Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices as these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers and the absence of hand washing at critical times are all possible contaminates to the water supply at the household level. TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each participating village to achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand dug well. Using the immediate gratification of clean water as an impetus, TWT works toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.
The Water Trust’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) per village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine with hand-washing facility, a rubbish pit, separate structure for animals and drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
The Water Trust implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. TWT facilitates a CLTS session in which we aim to improve the sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors of a village. During these sessions, village leaders naturally emerge and push the community to realize that current practices of individual households – particularly open defecation– are not only unhealthy, but affect the entire village. CLTS facilitates a process in which community members realize the negative consequences of their current water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors and are inspired to take action. Group interactions are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
May 19, 2015
Today we delivered Dan the technician with a helper to this village. We also sited a suitable location to sink a shallow well in this village. The community have taken lead in the excavation process which marks a good start.
May 25, 2015
Excavation work is progressing well through the 16th foot only that they have not yet struck water. Dan the technician and his helper are determined to ensure that the community of Nyakatiti- Kalwala access clean and safe water.
June 1, 2015
Water was struck 21 feet and presently the well is 23 feet deep. All locally available materials have been delivered to site however, Dan the technician has sought leave from this site to attend to his wife who is expectant. Work at this site will remain at halt until he returns from the paternity break.
June 24, 2015
Today we returned to this village for installation which was a success!
