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 Kyakakunguru Mudhel community in Uganda:
Background:
Mboira parish is home to Kyakakunguru village, famous for its hard working community. The community here is known for coming together to work in groups from planting their gardens to social events which has served to keep them united. Located in Kigumba sub county, Kiryandongo District, Kyakakunguru village has an estimated catchment population of about 150 people who engage in business and farming activities. In anticipation of the onset of the rainy season, farmers have already organized themselves and ploughed the gardens. Despite their hardworking approach, the community is challenged with accessing safe water for domestic use. As a result, people have little choice but to settle for collecting water from open water sources which are easily contaminated, exposing families to a host of waterborne diseases. The nearest Clean water sources are more than 2km away which is quite along distance.
Early this year, the village led by their chief wrote a letter requesting for a water source from The Water Trust where they committed to providing all local materials that are used in the construction of a hand dug shallow well within one week. They further pledged to host one of our technicians for all the time he will be deployed to this village to help them in the process of constructing a shallow well. The Water Trust is going to partner with this village to construct a water source that will provide them with clean and safe water. The village members have pledged to excavate the well at a suitable location and will also provide all local materials like sand and bricks. On the other part, The Water Trust will provide all technical support like cement, transport for the local and 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 until this project is complete.
The Water Trust (TWT) will have 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 meantime the aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to the practice of open defecation, feces are spread all over the village and contaminate open water sources. Our aim is to ensure that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable waterborne diseases. We strive to work in partnership with the community to access safe clean water and improved sanitation.
Construction Progress:
February 13, 2014
The TWT team delivered materials and assigned Christopher the technician to work with the community of Kyakakunguru Mudhel. By the end of the week , Christopher had reported that the excavation process was going well.
February 20, 2014
The excavation team has managed to reach 15ft and water has been struck. The technical team has advised for Christopher to work on trying to deepen the well.
February 26,2014
The team have hit a soft soil formation at 19ft and two concrete rings have been delivered to the site to steady the well.
March 05, 2014
A total of four concrete rings and two additional trips of hardcore have been placed into the well which has been deepened to 21 ft. This extra support is holding well as Christopher begins to line the well with 2000 bricks.
March 20, 2014
Today excavation hit the 23rd foot deep and this marks the end of deepening. This well has a water column of 8ft and out technical team feel that this is sustainable enough. Finishes are on to the walls and it is anticipated that by March 24th the well will be complete and we shall be looking forward to its installation.
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 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 are all possible contaminates of a household water supply. TWT leverages 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, 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) approach 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 behavior 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.
