Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Schools - Uganda

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: May 2011

Project Features


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Community Profile

A new well has been completed at a school in Nyakihanga, Ntungamo. 
Our implementing partner reported...
 
"A LWI Uganda team member stated, '…but when I asked how the children protected themselves from accidents, when crossing the road to fetch water, they said they believe that it’s God who has protects them and that's why He gave them the borehole because He cares for them.' When the team arrived, community children were forced to cross a busy street to fetch water at a spring. Because of this, children were not only in danger, but were also suffering from malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration from drinking the spring water. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of four men and five women who assisted the team with basic labor, provided food for the LWI staff and will also be responsible for maintaining the borehole by working in conjunction with the LWI sustainability coordinator. The majority of community members farm to feed their families and the nearest school is a primary school located in the community.
 
Local Testimony
The LWI Uganda team had an opportunity to meet with twenty-five year old community member and school cook, John Kakuru, who stated, 'We had a problem getting the water from the spring due to congestion, as you spend an hour lining up to get water and with my work everything has to be in place at the right time. Now I am so happy that the water is at the compound which is going to improve on my work and the pupils will have their break in time because they no longer have to cross the road to go fetch water. So I am really very pleased that this well is so near to us. This Well is going to improve also on the academic aspect because children and staff will eat in time and have enough time in class to study.'
 
Hygiene Training
The LWI Uganda team observed the community practicing the following unhealthy practices: sleeping with animals, allowing animals to move freely throughout the school compound, disposing of trash throughout the community, drinking un-boiled water and openly defecating. Because of these practices along with the consumption of spring water, community members were suffering from diarrhea, malaria, cough, flue and intestinal worms. The LWI Uganda team shared an introductory hygiene lesson with eight community members where the following principle issues were addressed: Disease transmission, Germs, Hand Washing- proper techniques and water saving methods, Healthy Unhealthy Communities, Diarrhea Doll- causes of diarrhea, Oral Rehydration Solution, Proper care of the pump, Keeping the water clean, community mapping- identifying hygiene behaviors, Good-bad hygiene behaviors, Disease Transmission Stories, Clean Hands Clean Hearts and Dental Hygiene. The team also distributed two community kits and seven ORS spoons to community families.
 
Christian Witness
'Even the Pope is not righteous…?' one member commented during the training. This was during a lesson about how all people have fallen short of the glory of God. The team expressed that we are saved by His Grace and that many of our friends are ignorant of God's word, making it important that we share the Good News with our friends. The team discussed several traditional beliefs like divorce, Holy Communion, visiting witch doctors for healing and intercourse between relatives. The team shared oral strategy to the evangelism team as a better means to reach the illiterate. The LWI Uganda team leader stated, 'I witnessed this when two members came up with their own crafted stories the following day. They were excited that they were able to retell stories without reading from the Bible. However, some members found it hard to reproduce the two stories I shared with them but I encouraged them to keep practicing these and any other stories.' Other things shared with community members were how to help new believers grow in their relationship with Christ, God's sovereignty, confessions of sin and Christ's deity."

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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!


Sponsors

Yakima Foursquare Church
North Way Christian Community Inc.