Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 400 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2022

Functionality Status:  Low/No Water or Mechanical Breakdown

Last Checkup: 12/04/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

This community is one of the newly created villages within Bikonzi Parish. The most common livelihood is farming, and the majority of crops grown are beans, maize, or sugarcane for commercial purposes. A few in the community raise cattle or have small shops. The community lacks many services like safe water, schools (children travel 8km away), and good roads.


Rehabilitation of this water point is critical as it is currently the only functional water point, and a safe water supply must be restored to this community. It is always overcrowded throughout the day since it serves a large number of people. Due to the old, rusted pipes and rods, sometimes in the morning, the water comes out with brownish iron particles, which are not good for people's health. There are frequent breakdowns, and people spend a lot of money on the repairs, making it challenging financially to have it repaired on time. Children and adults suffer from diarrhea, scabies, and other skin diseases due to using the dirty water from the open sources whenever this borehole breaks down.

"I always begin my day with garden work before I begin the search for water since it's far away from my home. One of the boreholes which would help us is currently not functional; therefore, I have to walk a longer distance to collect water or opt for the open-source. I am always forced to leave my garden work early in order to collect water, and this has always compromised my output," said Akamumpa Annet, a mother and farmer.

Here’s what we’re going to do about it:

Rehabilitated Well

We are going to restore water to the broken-down borehole. Since this water point is located at the center of the village and easily accessible by the majority of people, unlike the springs which are located at the far ends of the village, when this borehole is restored to its original status it will provide the community with easy access to clean and safe water. We will remove the old pump, clear out the well, reinstall a new stainless steel pump, and build a new well pad to protect the water.

Training

Training’s main objectives are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices since these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers, and the absence of handwashing are all possible contaminants of a household water supply. Each participating village must achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by 1 latrine per household) before the pump installation for a shallow hand-dug well.

This social program includes the assignment of 1 Community Development Officer (CDO) to each village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes a latrine, handwashing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit, and drying rack for dishes.

We also implement the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. This aims 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 the current practices of individual households – particularly the practice of 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.

Improved Sanitation

The aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to open defecation, feces are spread all over the village. This leads to waterborne diseases and contamination of groundwater and surface water. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life free of preventable diseases. We endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community, people will have both access to sustainable, clean water and access to sanitation. We have now organized families to form digging groups for latrine construction, and empowered them with tools they will need.

Project Updates


March, 2022: Kyakaitera Well Rehabilitation Complete!

A well rehabilitated in Kyakaitera, Uganda is already providing community members with clean, safe water! Additionally, we hosted a training where community members worked together to make a development action plan for their area. As a result, families are working to build new sanitation and hygiene facilities, tools, and habits that will help improve their living standards and enable a healthier life.

Riton D., 10, said, "At home, when [we] don't wash utensils and bathe in time, we are threatened not to be given food. So access to this water point will help me achieve all the tasks on time before mealtime."

Riton drinking from the new well.

He continued, "This water point will help me improve on my hygienic practices by ensuring that all my uniforms are always [clean] and I plan to become a health prefect (an older student who teaches younger students) when school reopens next year."

Rehabilitated Borehole Well

We worked with the community to determine the best possible site for this rehabilitation. After meetings and visits throughout the community, together we agreed that this borehole was the best option to work on.

Throughout the construction process, several households volunteered to host the drilling technicians, giving them a place to sleep and food to eat throughout their stay.

Repairing the well.

The work team pulled up the old pump, cleared out the well, reinstalled a new stainless steel pump, and built a new well pad to once again seal off the well water from surface-level contaminants.

Flushing the well.

We conducted a yield test and checked the water’s quality to ensure the well’s ease of access and safety. With great results, we handed over the rehabilitated well to the community. The well is already providing safe, reliable water for the community’s daily use.

Clean water flowing!

"The access to safe and clean water will help me reduce on time wastage of moving long distances to access water from other water points and also give me ample time to attend to my family and prepare food for them in time," said Aisha Kibetenga, a 32-year-old housewife.

Aisha at the well.

She continued, "[I] will also ensure that my jerrycans are cleaned before going to the borehole and enough water is collected for general cleanliness at home."

Training

The first training session focused on financial planning. We mobilized the community through a series of meetings that sensitized them on the importance and purpose of saving. This included meetings dedicated to creating a community profile, where participants map the physical environment and stakeholders in their own community. We also ran a participatory vulnerability capacity assessment exercise. In this session, community members mapped out their shared risks and opportunities, including the water point breaking down.

Community members walking to the training.

Next, we scheduled the savings group training date with the community. We planned for a one-day training to form the savings group and discuss the best practices for maintaining and managing it.

We worked with the community to establish a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and a water user committee. The savings group set up a fund to provide small loans to each other and another fund they will use to pay for any repairs to the well if an issue arises. The group also agreed on a social fund that will provide grants to fellow group members and help them with funeral expenses or catastrophes such as fire damage. Our teams will provide follow-up training to support putting the savings group into practice while also offering continuous coaching in records management.

Aisha Kibetenga, mentioned previously, plans to start a business in Kyaikaitera Centre after joining the Self Help Group since it is the only way she can accumulate the money to start the business.

Using a tippy tap handwashing station.

Additional training sessions focused on hygiene and sanitation at the personal, household, community, and environmental levels. In collaboration with the community facilitator and local leaders, we trained households on critical hygiene and sanitation facilities to build. These include latrines, dish racks, refuse pits, handwashing facilities, and bathing shelters. Our teams monitor these facilities’ construction while helping the community learn how to best use and care for them.

Finally, we led an additional training for local artisans to teach them how to fabricate and sell locally used and accepted sanitation products that allow for more hygienic and accessible latrines.

Just as with the financial training, we will continue to support the community in their sanitation and hygiene progress through monitoring visits. In addition, we will offer follow-up assistance and refresher training to ensure community members follow through in building their new facilities and developing new habits.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




January, 2022: Kyakaitera Community Well Rehabilitation Underway!

A severe clean water shortage in the Kyakaitera community drains people’s time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!




Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


A Year Later: Never missing school!

March, 2023

A year ago, your generous donation helped Kyakaitera Community in Uganda access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Ivan. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Kyakaitera Community.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kyakaitera Community maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

The community members in Kyakaitera used to fight for water since the waterpoint they were relying upon was far away and overcrowded.

"Before this project was completed, I would wake up very early in the morning to collect water, and sometimes this would affect me because I would miss school as a result of getting very tired," said 11-year-old Ivan A.

But since the well near their homes was rehabilitated last year, things have been different for everyone.

"The water point is located within the school premises and nearer to our home. I have never missed school since this borehole was fixed. [I] am happy that my performance has improved," Ivan said.

Not only does Ivan have more time and energy to put towards learning he is also able to help out his family now.

"[I] am able to help my parents collect water. I have been able to support my parents with their piggery project, and this has helped to raise money for my [school] fees," Ivan concluded.

Ivan pumping water.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kyakaitera Community maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Kyakaitera Community – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.


Contributors

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14 individual donor(s)