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 Karagayla-Kanyaraga Zone community in Uganda:
Surrounded by fields where farming is the major activity, Karagalya-kanyaraga Zone is one of the seven zones located in a big village called Karagalya which is located in Kyankende parish of Kiryandongo sub county in Kiryandongo District. Most people here work in their gardens on their own and at this time of the season, there has been no rain at all. It is extremely dry and hot. Farmers are preparing their gardens for the next rains.
In Karagalya-Kanyaraga Zone people fetch water from open water sources. This water is highly turbid and it is said to be the major cause of diseases in the village. The only protected water source, a shallow well is 2 km away and this source dries out during dry seasons. To many this is so far to fetch water every day. Children and women are responsible for fetching water. One jerrycan carries 20 liters of water. You can imagine how heavy it is to carry two jerrycans, 2 km far! Sometimes, people fetch even twice a day. Fetching water is a consuming day task. At the moment people get sick due to the dirty water they fetch.
The community is very happy with the opportunity to receive a clean and protected water source. “We are going to work hard not only on the water source but also on the construction of latrines so that the ground water remains protected.” Affirmed Mr. Odokpau Samson, the village chief. Currently the community is very dirty. a big fraction of the community households practicing open defecation as they don’t have latrines.
In Karagalya-Kanyaraga Zone, The Water Trust will have an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation. The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the mean time the aim is that all households have access to 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 (fatal) diseases and contamination of the groundwater. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy live, free of preventable diseases. Therefore we endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community; people have both access to sustainable clean water and access to sanitation.
Construction Progress:
January 17, 2014
Today we brought the technician Richard to the village. We walked through the area to spot sites where we can find water. We found a suitable area where we can start excavating. For the coming weeks Richard will stay with the community. The community will provide accommodation and food to him.
In addition to the new well, our partner in the field conducts training in sanitation and hygiene, including encouraging and helping the community install latrines which 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 and embarrassment are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.
