Rehabilitation Project
This project is a part of our shared program with The Water Trust. Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Lamvorongur Odwogo is a remote village located in Mboira parish, Kigumba sub-county in Kiryandongo district. Most of the residents of this village engage in farming with tobacco, cassava and maize being the major cash crops grown using rudimentary tools like hoes and pick axes. Some families raise cattle which produce milk for the rest of the community. At the end of every evening in this village, many folks, especially men, turn to drinking locally brewed alcohol from the small kiosk bars which form the village trading center. During the first village meeting between our social team and the community, we realized that residents of this village don't wash their hands after defecating in the bush since there are no water points. They do not only contaminate other open water sources, but even the food they eat and the hand of every colleague they shake.
Bosco Onen, 51 years old with a family of nine, says his village mates realized the dangers of poor sanitation during an engagement with our social team which prompted them to apply for a water source through Omwoch Joseph, the village chairman. He also revealed to us how they had organized themselves into latrine digging groups in a bid to improve sanitation in the village.
There will be 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 mean time the aim is that all households own a latrine. Many households don't use a latrine but use the bush. Due to open defecation, feaces are spread over the village. This leads to (sometimes fatal) diseases and contamination of the groundwater. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable diseases. Therefore we endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community, people have access to both sustainable clean water and sanitation. As a strategy to achieve is, we do not commission the water source until all households have latrines. We have worked with the digging groups for latrine construction and empowered them with tools to use.
SANITATION AND HYGIENE STRATEGY
The main objectives of the 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. We leverage 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, the team works toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.
The 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, a separate structure for animals, and a drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
We implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. The team 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
August 31, 2015
Today we went reported to site with Bosco the technician and Sulait his assistant. We also sited a suitable location for the project while guided by the residents. Excavation work has commenced and the community is working together with the technician.
September 7, 2015
The excavation team worked so fast in the last seven days that they struck water 23ft deep. The soil formation has however changed to soft which has prompted them to slow down.
September 21, 2015
Running mud overpowered the well walls which led to the collapsing of the bricked up walls. We have since resited and excavation resumed. Water has already been struck 14 feet deep. The soil formation is also collapsing and deepening method will be used to control the running mud. We shall keep you updated.
September 28, 2015
Soil formation has continued to collapse but the technician on site is containing it. Presently the well is 21ft deep and has a water column of 7ft.
October 10, 2015
The well was bricked up and all masonry work at this project has been concluded. It is now covered to cure as we arrange for its installation.
October 20, 2015
Today we installed the pump and the community is happy about their new protected water source.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE!
(Editor’s Note: The population listed for this project is an estimate as our partner has not been able to provide this information yet. We will update the page as soon as we are able.)
