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Sept 2024 Kokelo Project Update

Teresa now has a tap in her home! The Kokelo project prioritized service to vulnerable households, It’s always rewarding to see elderly residents able to collect water at a household tap.

At the time of our September visit, 19 households were receiving daily service from Kokelo’s water supply system, far short of the 148 connections that were scheduled to be completed by now. To connect the remaining 129 households, the community must complete 3 critical sections of water supply pipe. This is the first project of its kind in the area, which means there will be implementation challenges as the details of the program get established. In most Water1st projects, it’s the responsibility of the community to dig trenches and backfill them. This is not always the case with development projects, which led to speculation that funds had been dispersed to pay for the trenching. However, we were able to clarify the situation during our visit and trenching is progressing well now.

There had been progress in other parts of the project at the time of our visit. Crews have completed most of the work on the toilets for Magwako Primary School. The structures have been built and fixtures were being installed during our visit. The septic pit for all 3 toilet blocks (a girls’ block, a boys’ block, and a teachers’ block) was excavated and the structural features were being poured. The water committee opened an office, where community members can make payments or register for a service connection. People who have water service are very pleased with the water and their new toilets and showers. The water committee is developing strategies to mobilize the community to complete the final sections of water supply pipeline.

Before the water project, Theresa relied on neighors to collect her water because she was no longer able to carry the water herself. Water was always scarce. Now she’s connected to the water system and she can even water a garden. She grows vegetables which she sells to pay her water bill and other costs.
Paris is one of the residents identified as needing special project assistance due to her age and inability to walk without crutches. Paris installed her toilet inside the house, making it easy to use in the dark or during a rainstorm. A flush toilet can be installed indoors because the water seal creates a barrier to odor, just like the toilets in our homes. Households like Paris' that have no income received a complete toilet/bathroom at no cost. Care was taken to address the needs of each resident. Elderly residents usually chose a toilet that they could sit on. Builders included support bars in the the toilet to help users sit and stand. Residents like Paris above appreciate a stress-free trip to the bathroom.
Workers build toilets at Magwako School to improve health and hygiene conditions for hundreds of students. Workers build the toilets at Magwako primary school. The girls’ toilets has 4 stalls, with the extra stall designed for menstrual hygiene management.
A critical component of project success is hygiene education. Our implementing partners have a unique opportunity to convey important messages. In Kokelo, one focus has been on menstrual hygiene, breaking the taboo of publicly discussing menstruation. Techniques include skits that openly address menstruation challenges that students face and launching a small business that produces and sells reusable sanitary pads (above).