By now, I hope you’ve heard about our community project in Kaabowa Village, Uganda. During our work here, we will address all of the water needs of the entire community.
Like we’ve outlined on our project page, the first phase of this project will focus on digging a well to provide safe water in a central community area. The well will allow families to access clean and safe water quickly and efficiently.
RHCF (our local partner) will begin digging this well with an expectation of high community participation in manual labor and contribution of locally available materials. The community mobilization will allow everyone to participate and take ownership of this new project. This is a component that we have discovered is crucial to success in water projects: an engaged community.
Dr. Ssenoga of the RHCF previously wrote about the dangers of unsafe water in the community. “Where I live, people die from diseases because they don’t believe there is treatment,” he wrote. Many people in Kaabowa village do not understand that their water quality is dangerous to them and their families.
That is why WaterStep is working to train a water user committee that will be strong enough to control the operation and maintenance of the water source. This group of individuals will become local spokespeople for the cause of safe water and ensure its sustainability.
Dr. Ssenoga and his community are in desperate need of safe water to drink, and this first step can drastically change the quality of their lives. To learn more about the village, check out the project page and follow along as we keep you updated about the phases of this project. I know that the entire WaterStep staff is grateful for your help and excited about the possibility for change in Kaabowa village.
Check back in for more updates about Phase One next week.
