Report: Water well for Makambie community funded by SisterSunshine

With the completion of well construction and training of two caretakers, the people of Makambie including school going children will now benefit access to safe drinking water.

MAKAMBIE WELL CONSTRUCTION FINAL REPORT

The Makambie well was completed last March, 2010 and has been properly
monitored and observed since then to see if it could serve throughout
the year. This has been proven and the well is fully operational and
serving its targeted beneficiaries. And of this regard, also is a
detailed expenditure analysis.
Activities.
Since January 2010, sinking of culvert was effected and after completion
of sinking the Apron was constructed and later followed by the slab.
The hand pump was also installed.
Two members selected by the Makambie community were trained in repairs
and maintenance of hand pump. The training lasted for a period off
3days.
After the training of community pump care taker, the well was handed
over to the community through the town headman.
The Makambie well is about 12metres deep and has very good quality water
to serve the present total Population in the community.
The well was completed in the last week of March 2010 after the
resumption of work at the end of the rainy season.
In the area of water purification, hygiene and sanitation, a workshop
was conducted at the village to train community members on a simple and
cheap household water treatment (Solar water disinfection Technology)
and basic Hygiene and sanitation practices. By this, it is believed that
people in the community will not only have access to pure drinking
water but will also have good health that will help them in making a
living.
The commissioning and handing over ceremony was very colourful, drums
were sounded with lots of singing by all and sundry as they celebrated
their newly constructed well funded by Sisters’ Sunshine through The
Blue Planet Run Foundation.
Pictures were snapped and random interview was conducted in the
community to know the impact the constructed well will make in the
township.

CHALLENGES
The heavy down pour of rains had to forced us to stop work due to the high level and pressure of the water table. We had no alternative but waited till January, 2010 when construction started till the last week in March when it was finally completed and handed over to the community in April, 2010.
During the construction we had to meet a very had core bed which created hard time for the workers in the absence of compressor machine which is very costly and can only be seen in big companies working in rocky areas. This also contributed to the delay of the manual work.
The increase in the cost of fuel also affected us as prices for the supply of materials from their respective sources increased also.
Also was the community's annual Poro Initiation Society Celebration. People who are not members could not come out during such activities or else they could be forcefully initiated. This was a cause of concern as our staff do not belong to the society and had to leave until the initiation completed.

RECOMMENDATIONS
That construction, repairs and maintenance of wells be carried between
the months of November to April which are the most ideal period for a
very good quality well that is not easy to dry during the peak of the
dries
Provision be made for contingencies to meet the increase in cost of
materials while awaiting approval and funding of proposal for
implementation.
Negotiation and recommendation be made to all village chiefs or headmen
to create opportunity for workers to execute the services even at
initiation periods.

APPRECIATION
The Safer Future Youth Development Project together with the community
leaders and inhabitants, appreciate the wonderful gesture from sister
sunshine and BPR.
Therefore, we would like to express our profound thanks to sisters
sunshine, BPR and all those that contributed to the success of the
Makambie well project.

The Project has trained two community members on well maintenance. They shall be responsible for overseeing the operation of the well, doing repairs when due and ensuring the proper use of the well.

Because the well was started during the rains the water table was not stable, hence we had to wait for awhile (until Mid March) to get the actual water table.
The PORO SOCIETY initiation disrupted our time scheduled to get the well completed on time. Our workers could not work because they are not members of the society. If they had ventured out they would have been forced to be initiated.

To be fully aware of the customs and tradition that prevails in a community.
Build on the capacity of the community to enable them take charge after the handing over would fave been done or when the implementing partner would have left.