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 Kihura Tegot community in Uganda:
Background:
Kihura Tegot is a small village in Kyankende parish, Kiryandongo sub-county, Kirandongo District with about forty households and is famous for cereal production. According to Mr. Abitegeka Peter, 42, born of this village, married with three children, wild animals are a threat to the residents as they go to the spring located at one side of the village. Some times these animal follow them up an end up destroying their gardens.
Arising from the above, Mr. Okello Vincent, the village chairman, wrote a letter to The Water Trust requesting a water source to enable this community access clean water. In his letter, he affirmed that the community was ready with all locally available materials like one trip of sand sand , a trip of hardcore, 2000 bricks, the man power to excavated the well and accommodation of the technician while he helps them in construction of this well.
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, faeces 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:
June 20, 2014
Asuman the technician arrived into the community of Kihura Tegot late last week and set to work with the community reaching the water table this week working through the soft soil formation. With the rain season coming to an end, the community has mobilized to work on the community access road to ensure that the delivery of materials on site.
June 30, 2014
This week the community volunteers and Asuman the technician continued to make good progress with the excavation and began the process of deepening the well. The community was also true to their word and worked on clearing up the overgrown community access road to the water point which allowed for the delivery of community contributed materials.
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
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 at critical times are all possible contaminates to the water supply at the household level. 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.
The Water Trust’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) per village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine with hand-washing facility, a rubbish pit, separate structure for animals and drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
The Water Trust 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 behaviors 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.
