Report: Litchenza Samuti and Chamasowa

Litchenza Samuti and Chamasowa Water and Sanitation Project

The village of Chikhwaza was included in the original draft proposal which was for 100% coverage within Litchenza which includes: Samuti, Chamasowa and Chikhwaza villages. Chikwaza was originally a part of Samuti village and therefore was included as part of the intervention.

The community members will be trained to open and assess the Afridev handpumps every three months at which time worn parts should be replaced. The costs for spare parts will change over time as more expensive parts wear out so we need a flexible system.

The components of this project that Water For People will measure are the following: Goals of water component: 1. Improved access for participating households (eliminating problems of distance, safety and issues around collection) 2. Water system is in-line with government policy according to distances, technology, organizational structure, quantity and quality. 3. To decrease the amount of time used for collection. 4. To ensure that the community has the financial and technical capacity to sustain the systems. 5. To limit the amount of downtime for breakdowns and repairs. Monitoring and evaluation indicators for water system (to take place annually for 3 years): 1. Evidence of decreased distance to collect water 2. Evidence of reduced time needed to collect water 3. Increased quantities of water collected 4. Improved quality (evidenced through water quality tests completed before the project and 6 months after) 5. Evidence of spare parts, repairs and/or finance 6. Evidence of reducing downtimes and monitoring of length of downtime for 3 years Goals of sanitation component: 1. To ensure latrines are used and managed hygienically. Monitoring and evaluation indicators for sanitation (to take place annually for 3 years): 1. At least 90% follow-up monitoring and evaluation surveys show the following: a. Latrine floors are free of feces and urine b. Immediate environment free of feces (open defecation) c. Squat hole is free of spider webs or impediments to use Monitoring and evaluation indicators for committee trainings (to take place annually for 3 years): 1. Evidence of spare parts available, increased financial management capacity as shown by decreased downtime 2. Availability of water adjacent to latrine for handwashing at time of visit 3. Availability of cleansing agent (ash, soap, dirt) for handwashing adjacent to latrine at time of visit 4. Increased knowledge of appropriate handwashing information (i.e. appropriate times for handwashing and correct ways to handwash)

Litchenza Samuti, Chamasowa Water and Sanitation projects were implemented in the area of Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo District. The project’s main activities included drilling of 6 (Six) Boreholes installed with Afridev Village Level Operation Pumps and construction of 40 (Forty) improved latrines. Hygiene promotion was part of the program. Traditionally, hygiene and sanitation promotion is done by holding meetings at central points. In this project we took a different approach whereby apart from meeting people at a central point, few key people were selected and followed up at household level until there behavior changed. The few individuals started marketing the ideas to their fellow community members and in one year we are able to a notice a change in hygiene behaviour of the people in Litchenza community. The individual contacts were more effective compared to general sensitization meetings. Even some of the households which did not directly benefit from the project have constructed latrines and wash hands at the recommended four times (after being in contact with children faeces and using the latrine and before preparing and eating food). There still some that need more time to buy the ideas.

We also trained water users in operation and maintenance of the pump. Although we only targeted the 6 water points, the neighboring village, Chikhwaza had a water point which was not functioning but leant through this project and repaired their pump.