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 Hanga community in Uganda:
Located in Mboira Parish, Hanga village is home to about 150 people who are largely farmers and their main crops are millet, cassava, maize and vegetables. According to Mr. Oriavimbo Yusuf, born 48 years ago and a father of five, this village is faced with scarcity of clean water. For one to access clean water from a protected spring you must trek some two kilometers to the nearby village. At this spring, there are always long queues since its the only source of clean water. Other alternatives are open contaminated sources which are dirty and are shared with animals.
Hanga village hosts a small trading center and a church which also doubles as venue for all village meetings. According to Mr. Ajiku Kommel, the newly elected village water user committee chairman, residents of this village always come and work together when ever there is need. It is in the same arrangement that the area Community Development Officer Godfrey plans to mobilize and have every household without a latrine construct one.
The Water Trust in partnership with this village will construct a water source that will provide clean and safe water to this village. The village members will be required to excavate the well at a suitable location and also provide all local materials like sand and bricks. On the other part, The Water Trust will will provide all technical support, cement, transport for all materials and all hardware materials including a pump-head and pipes. The community will further provide accommodation and food to our technician who will reside at one of the community member’s home till this project is complete.
Construction Progress:
November 12, 2013
Today we visited Hanga to site a suitable location for this water source and we were successful. We also delivered Benya, a technician to this community where he will stay till the end of this project. One of the residents has accepted to live with him and other members will provide him wit food for all the time of his stay as he helps them with technical knowledge as this water source is being constructed.
November 15, 2013
All materials have been delivered on site and excavation work is moving on smoothly. The current depth is 7ft.
November 18, 2013
Today we hit water at 15ft. The community is very motivated by this achievement. Excavation will proceed until a good water column coupled with good recharge is reached.
November 22, 2013
At 22ft, excavation is complete and the water column is 7ft. Masonry work will begin tomorrow.
November 25, 2013
Today all masonry work was concluded as the well is complete. We have now covered it to give it ample time to cure before the pump head can be installed. The community has been so supportive and are highly anxious to draw clean water from this water source. We shall keep you updated when we install it.
December 04, 2013
It was jubilation at Hanga village when the first drop of water popped out of this village hand dug shallow well. The community got so excited about the relief from dirty contaminated water that they have been drinking. We successfully installed the pump and the recharge rate is very good. Check out this update in the pictures below.
In addition to the shallow well that we funded through our partner, extensive Sanitation and Hygiene was given in the community to help prevent the spread of disease:
Sanitation and hygiene progress
The main objectives of TWT’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and proper hygiene 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 are all possible contaminates of a household water source. TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each 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.
TWT’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) to one village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine, hand-washing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit and drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
TWT implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program 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, embarrassment and shame are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.
November 14, 2013
Today we conducted a baseline survey in Hanga where we found only 17 out of the 30 households with improved latrines. This translates to 57%latrine coverage. Godfrey, the community development officer of this area has mobilized the rest of the community without access to improved latrines into groups that will work together to sink latrines at each and every ones home. By the end of our presence in this community, we anticipate that every household will have an improved latrine.
[GPS coordinates for this project are approximate.]
