Progress/Status Report | A Progress Report for the Blue Planet Run Foundation Safe Water for a Healthy Life

Background

Communities in Yemen have long struggled with limited water supply, but in recent decades, water shortages have reached extremes. Increasing demand and population growth have outstripped available resources in many areas. A lack of water and sanitation infrastructure puts families at high risk for disease

In response to this challenge, CARE launched a broad effort across three of the Yemen’s 21 governorates to improve: access to clean water; the sanitation of private and communal water points; sanitation and hygiene practices; and the overall health of the community, with an emphasis on children. The Blue Planet Run Foundation’s most recent contribution of $10,000 is supporting CARE’s Safe Water for a Healthy Life project in one community in the western governorate of Al-Mahweet. This interim report for the Blue Planet Run Foundation describes project accomplishments over the past six months.

Project Activities

During this phase of the Safe Water for a Healthy Life, CARE aims to establish household water connections in one community in Al-Mahweet and to ensure that the infrastructure is maintained by residents in a sustainable manner. To achieve this goal, the project’s central components include:

• Establishing household distribution networks;
• Rehabilitating water supply systems;
• Conducting awareness campaigns to promote good hygiene and water conservation; and
• Training community members to manage and maintain the water systems in the long-term.

Activities

? Output 1: Establishment of household distribution networks.

CARE has successfully established a water distribution network connecting 42 households in the community and benefiting 482 people. The network has been implemented and financed with support from community members.

? Output 2: Rehabilitation of water supply systems.

By the end of May 2008, CARE had rehabilitated the community water supply system, including a well, pump and generator. The system pumps water from the source to the water tanks that supply households. The original well was 20 meters deep, and CARE extended it down three meters further in order to guarantee enough water for 24-hour access. The generator for the water pump was replaced with a new one with the capacity to pump the water more than 150 meters above the pump itself.

? Output 3: Awareness campaign on safe water handling, public cleaning, and water hygiene.

The education campaign has not yet started, but will begin shortly (see the table below for a schedule of activities over the next six months).

? Output 4: Capacity building training for the water management committee.

During the reporting period, one training event has been given to community members by the project engineer about water supply system maintenance. This will be complemented by additional trainings in the coming months.

Activities Planned for the Next Six Months

Activities Schedule (in Months)
6 7 8 9 10 11
Conduct hygiene and water conservation awareness campaigns for the community. *
*

Conduct water committee management training. *
Monitor water management committee performance. *
*
* * * *
Provide committee with technical support for water infrastructure maintenance and financial management. *

*

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