Water Project in Ngoma District.
The aim of the trip was to visit World Relief Rwanda‘s water project activities in Ngoma district, Rukumberi sector, funded by Rwanda Prayer Banquet USA. The organization was represented by Ms. Antoinette Kanyabutembo, the founder of the Rwanda Prayer Banquet USA. From World Relief Rwanda side, we had Moses Ndahiro, the Country Director, Michael Ntambara, the PIQ senior Manager, Didace Munyemana, the water project technical officer, Phocas Niyonsenga Mukezamfura, Rukumberi Sector Promoter, and Rebero Jean d’Amour the water Project Coordinator. We visited the following sites:
- ADEPR Rukumberi Water Project site. There, we had a brief introduction of guests by Michael Ntambara. Rebero Jean d’Amour then explained Water project activities, introduced the types of filters and the work done by volunteers. On site, the Water Project volunteers were washing sand used in filters and explained to guests the sand-washing process.
- ADEPR Rubona Primary School is located near the Water Project Site. There, we discussed with the school Head Teacher who told us how useful filters are to the school and the students. “More SAM II filters will help us eradicate the problem of drinking uncleaned water for learners, teachers, and people surrounding the school”, he said. The filter serves clean water to 702 people including 686 pupils, 14 teachers, and 2 labor wages. Before getting these filters, they were drinking water from the river around, Akagera, rainwater and Sake Lake, and Birira Lake, which caused waterborne diseases.
- A beneficiary’s household who received a filter to help with the clean water problem. Mukamurenzi Jaqueline is a 38-year-old mother living in NGOMA DISTRICT, RUKUMBERI SECTOR, RUBONA CELL, MASWA I VILLAGE. She is married to Twagerayezu Jean Bosco, currently not living with the family. Together, they have six children, all live with their mother. “Life was hard living with six children without my husband,” she said. The church identified Jacqueline as vulnerable and put her on the list of people to receive the filter. “Before receiving the filter, my children would drink any water that we did not boil or prepare in any way because the firewood is expensive. The water we use is from Lake Birira near us, or sometimes we would use rainwater. My children would often suffer from water-borne diseases or get a cold because of what we drank. My children are no longer getting sick as often as they used to, and it helps me go to the hospital less. I am grateful to World Relief and the church for helping me get this filter because it helps my family,” said Jacqueline.
- SAM II filter installed at Rukumberi Health Center. There, we spoke with Dusingizimana Jonas who is in charge of the staff at the health center, Leonilla Mukagasana who works in Customer care, and Telesphore Ntaharaye who is in charge of hygiene at the Rukumberi Health Center in Ngoma District. “This hospital was considered because it is in an area where it is surrounded by lakes and people have no access to clean water,” said Jonas. “On a daily basis, the health center services at least 100 people, and if any of them wants to drink water or to use it to take their medicine, then they have a cup and use water from the filter “added Leonilla. This filter came when needed because water is scarce in this area, and sometimes in the dry season, it is hard to find one gallon of water for patients. When the filter has a problem, they call a WRR volunteer to help and do the maintenance.
- SAM II filter installed at GS Rwintashya, a primary and secondary school. There we spoke with the dean of studies, the patron and the accountant. They told us that Rukumberi sector is known to be surrounded by lakes and the Akagera River. When there is no water in the community taps, locals drink and use water from lakes and rivers. Children in the area had issues related to water bone diseases because of the habit of drinking unclean water. At GS Rwintashya School, they have students in secondary school who take lunch there, and primary school students who need to drink water during the break. “When we received the SAMII filter at this school, we noticed the change in the lack of clean drinkable water for the students and the staff. We filter gallons of water and put them near classrooms so that a student can easily access the water without having to come to the filter itself. This way we keep it safe, and we minimize queues or gatherings, especially during this Covid-19 Pandemic.” They told us. Students were most vulnerable to water bone diseases but mostly diarrhea or colds. This would impact their attendance at school and their grades. They added that “Before receiving the filter, students used to carry their water containers from home. Now, they bring empty containers to school, and they can take back home filtered water. As a school, we started teaching the importance of drinking clean water, and luckily, filters were distributed in homes, so when students go home, they still have access to clean water.” There was a noticeable change in the attendance and grades when the school received the water filter. Most staff at GS Rwintashya, including the headmaster, have SAM III filters in their homes, so these filters were given to them when needed. GS Rwintashya School is large. They have 1700 students in primary, secondary, and TVET schools.
- The Rukumberi sector’s Executive Secretary, Mbarushimana Ildephonse. He told us about the partnership between the sector and World Relief Rwanda. He shared with us his knowledge on different programs implemented by WRR in the Rukumberi sector and the plan to give filters to the beneficiaries with regards to the Covid-19 regulations. He appreciated the work of the organization in the sector and looks forward to more collaboration.
- Concluded the trip with a visit to a Water Harvesting System installed at the Rukumberi Catholic Church. There we spoke to Thomas Habanabakize, the church leader. The church has 525 Christians. They were among the churches selected to receive a water tank that harvests rainwater because the sector sometimes has water scarcity, and they use lake water that is not clean. The tank they received helps them when it rains, and that way, the locals have access to water, especially during these times of the COVID-19 pandemic where people are required to wash their hands very often. The harvested water is also used by the church for laundry and the cleaning of the church in general. This tank also helps the locals who live in the proximities of the church get access to water as well. This tank also serves two more villages, Rukumberi and Ntove, close to Rwimpongo. We are very grateful to World Relief and their partners who helped us get this tank and the filters that they distributed in the communities. This is a big contribution to the transformation of lives in the community” said Father KAYIGI GERARD, a priest at the Rukumberi Catholic Church Central.
