Rehabilitation Project
The 240 people who live in the Byebega Community have struggled for two long years, as they have not had access to a clean, reliable water source. Currently, community members must travel an average of an hour and a half to get water from a small swamp full of brown, smelly water that has devastating effects on their health.
It is obvious from the looks of the water that it is contaminated. The community members report frequent cases of typhoid that steal their health and finances, making it difficult to make progress in their daily lives.
"There is nothing positive to say about using water that harms my health and that of my family. The fact that we fall ill from using this water source is a clear indicator that it is not safe," said 42-year-old farmer Jacob Igambisomi.
"When my children fell sick of typhoid because of using that water, I took them to the hospital for medication. My children were given injections and drugs, and they finally got better," continued Jacob.
Not only does this water source deplete valuable resources, it also hinders his children's education. Both impacts have adverse effects on their future ability to thrive.
"My children missed school when they were sick, and my income was also impacted because I lacked sufficient funds for medication."
Jacob and his family require a new water source that provides clean water without depleting their resources or compromising their future.
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!
Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
A Community-Wide Approach
In Uganda, we use a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, which involves several meetings where community members evaluate their own hygiene and sanitation practices to encourage lasting change. During these sessions, natural leaders emerge, motivating the community to recognize and change unhealthy behaviors that affect everyone.
Communities then commit to ending open defecation before we install the water project. Every household builds and uses a latrine to prevent disease and improve hygiene and sanitation alongside their new water source. To support this effort, a Community Development Officer (CDO) is assigned. The CDO encourages each household to set up handwashing stations, animal pens, garbage pits, and dish-drying racks. These additions are crucial in preventing the spread of common diseases.
