This project is made possible through the partnership of Water Charity and the National Peace Corps Association. 
Location
Kazingo and Karangura parishes in Bukuuku and Karangura sub-counties are located in Kabarole district, western Uganda – East Africa.
Community Description
Kazingo and Karangura are located about 16 KM from Fort Portal town, 10 KM off Bundibugyo road.
Twerwaneho Orphans Community Initiative (TOCI) works with over 220 vulnerable families in 26 villages of Bukuuku sub-county Kabarole district in areas of child protection, water, hygiene, health, sanitation, education and income generation.
TOCI has been supporting and empowering the community since May 2006, and has worked with Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers since 2010.
Problem Addressed
Bukuuku and Karangura sub-counties are far-flung areas bordering, and in the middle of, Rwenzori Mountains where families commute long distances (2-3 KM) in search of clean water.
During annual assessment and community visits, out of the 8 schools in and around Rwenzori Mountains, it was found that none has a nearby water source; children in schools survive and drink dirty water from far-away rivers. This poses a risk of contracting waterborne diseases like diarrhea, typhoid and cholera by school-going children.
Also, the community around the Kazingo area has no clean water, and adults and children are at risk of contracting diarrhea, cholera and typhoid. As a result of the water shortage, children and women spend a lot of time looking for clean water. This makes children tired, leaving them little time and energy for reading books and fulfilling other responsibilities.
The lack of nearby water sources lowers household incomes. People spend a lot of time searching for clean water, limiting the time that could be used for productive work, such as farming, business or other family income-generating projects.
TOCI organized meetings with community members and local council leaders to gather information, ideas and solutions to address the long-time water shortage and associated problems. The community is in serious need of clean water, and therefore requested support from TOCI and Water Charity. In doing so, they offered to contribute locally-available resources and help with project implementation.
Project Description
Water for Hard to Reach Areas (WAHARA) will construct 3 rain harvesting tanks with a capacity of 5,000 liters each for schools 
in three villages of Kazingo, Kiguma and Karangura parishes.
The school water tanks will each have two water outlets. On one side there will be a hand washing outlet with a liquid hand washing soap dispenser fitted, and on the opposite side will be a drinking water outlet with 2 ceramic water filters fitted on the tank. Thus, children will be able to access safe drinking water.
The project will also distribute 500 water collection and storage containers to 6 schools and 400 vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS and special needs children.
The project will also train and support 15 water user and monitoring committees with technical skills, tools and materials to ensure coordination and regular maintenance and repairs. The trained and empowered local committees will be among the beneficiaries and local leaders who will work voluntarily to ensure the projects are well cared for and last a long time.
Project Impact
The project will benefit more than 8,500 people. 5,500 children and over 3,000 adult beneficiaries.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Tiffany Tai, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Uganda, 2011-2013), Regional Recruiter for Peace Corps / West Coast Region, and active member of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Los Angeles
Monitoring and Maintenance
The project will also train and support 15 water use and monitoring committees with technical skills, tools and materials to ensure coordination and regular maintenance and repairs. The trained and empowered local committees will be among the beneficiaries and local leaders that will work voluntarily to ensure the projects are well cared for and last a long time.
Comments
This project falls under our ongoing East Africa Water & Sanitation Program. If you like this project, please donate to the overall program so that we can continue to do similar projects. It also comes under our Training & Support Initiative where we highlight projects that result in ongoing impact.
This project had been funded by an anonymous donor.
This project has been completed. To see the results, CLICK HERE.
