Rehabilitation Project
The 300 community members who live in the Kyamugamba Community rely on a faraway, unprotected well for their daily water needs. It takes people at least an hour to collect water from the well, which is located in the middle of some sugar cane fields.
A community member peels cassava (a starchy root vegetable).
The water people work so hard to collect is contaminated, so the community members who can afford to buy safe drinking water, which steals from their other important needs, but those who can not have no choice but to use it, risking their health.
The unprotected water source.
"The waterpoint is located in a valley, making it difficult and cumbersome to carry jerrycans of water. There are risks of accidents, particularly during the rainy season, as the waterpoint becomes submerged when it rains. Additionally, the access road is in poor condition, as it runs through the middle of sugar cane plantations," shared Field Officer Bena Nakabiri.
Thirteen-year-old Benard regularly collects water for himself and his family for two hours a day. It is an exhausting task that leaves little time or energy for anything else.
Bernard by the faraway waterpoint.
"The distance makes fetching water a lengthy process. I am concerned because the access road is unsafe, requiring me to travel through sugarcane plantations. I feel distressed due to the long distance and the unsafe area," shared Benard.
We asked him if the lack of water in his community affected his schooling. He said, "Yes, occasionally, I miss some lessons because I arrive at school late after fetching water, which negatively affects my performance."
He dreams of becoming a lawyer one day, but he knows to do so, he needs to attend school regularly and have the time and energy to focus on his future. Benard feels responsible for helping his parents with chores but doesn't often have time to do so because of his current water situation.
Bernard's daily life will look different with a reliable water source in his community. He should have time to help his parents with chores, including quickly collecting the water they need, but still have time to attend school and study to reach for his future dreams.
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.
