First Week Progress

This report is from our beloved Francis who is on the ground making all of this happen for us:

Day 1 (Tuesday Night);

This involved the collection of filtering sand from lake victoria which would be used to secure the the drilled borehole flash points. These were transported from Entebbe to Kayabwe using the blue truck on tuesday night and arrived in Kayabwe Wednesday morning. Included in this trip was the transportation of the drilling team and the equipment and all the necessary site material so that when work commences; unless otherwise badly needed, we had all the items on site like the pipes.

Day 2 (Wednesday);

The drilling team had to be settled into their lodging quarters and ammenities such as food supplies, pre-inspection of the sites to finally check especially the firmness of the trucks pathways and also clearing the drive way. Any slight mistake in as regards the firmness of the pathways would spell disaster; The trucks could tip over, get stuck or the drilling equipment get broken while on unplanned transit. So all these had to be taken into account. Part of the drill team had to ascertain this integral part of safety.

I had to get a cook for the drilling team from the community. This not only helps the team to feel a part of the community they have gone into but also for the community to feel that they are a part of what is happening on the ground. It is more like a bonding thing!

It is rainy season here and the trucks had to be fitted with traction tyres so as to be able to move from the paved roads conditions to the more difficult inner village slippery terrain.The process of changing the tyres and fitting literally took the whole day.

There was the cleaning of the Water drilling rig, The compressor Machine and the servicing of the drilling equipment to make sure that there is smooth uninterupted work once on site.

There was a heavy downpour which would have hampered the truck movement and even the drilling process. It is never a good idea to drill while there is rain because of collapsing drilled walls into the well.

Day 3 (Thursday);

There was full sunshine and no overcast skies and definitely no rain. We departed for the first site at 9am, and set up the equipment at site 1 - which I will call Kirabo 1 site. This is the site near the kitokolo Primary School and Godlive. The actual drilling, began at about 1.00pm local time and by about 4pm we had hit the jackpot and there was water gushing even as the drill team continued to the required depth. There is still more work to be done in Site 1. So first thing tomorrow morning we are going there to tie up the loose ends. God-willing, we will start drilling in either site 2 or 3, depending on the weather patterns. Both remaining wells offer very challenging terrains especially with the heavy trucks and mud on the paths. But as long as there is sunshine, all should go well.

Was able to mobilise the community in Bugeye to clear the passage to Kirabo 2.

The community came out to watch their well being built.  They fed the workers as well.  

The water board

They hit water!

Drilling has begun!

The drilling started today on the first well.  They should be done drilling all three wells in the next two weeks!  It is so exciting to have come this far.  We are so grateful to all those who have donated to help our cause!

Woman in purple is Sophia who is the council woman for the well #1 and is helping to oversee the drilling

Our engineers have communicated to the three water boards (the committee made up of local villagers to help oversee use/maintenance/upkeep of their well) that as the two heavy trucks come to each drilling site, they will ruin some of the land owners' crops.  The good news is most of the land owners are on the water board committees so they understand.  We have reached a settlement from our donations to help them recover this loss.

The constitutions for each well will be completed by the end of the week.  (See last post for pictures of their meetings and constitutions.)  Training is continuing by the teenagers to teach the importance of good hygiene and proper maintenance of the well.  Our trusted friend, Francis, is transporting the workers and smoothing relations among the villages and overseeing timelines.  He will also make a monthly trip to visit each of the wells (a three hr drive each way for him) to ensure the upkeep of the well.  All too often because of no water boards and thus no accountability, the wells break and the villagers are right back where they started.  We are hoping education of the villagers and accountability of the boards will ensure proper usage and a long life for each well!

Drilling should be done in two weeks!  Stay tuned and check back for updates!

We are still $2,000 short for the third well and are also hoping to have $2,000 in an account for ongoing maintenance costs.  Spread the word, pass the blog around, send our website for donations!  We are almost there!!!

Website: (cut and paste link in a new window, the hyperlink isn't working.) 
http://www.globalvillageconnect.org/kirabos-well.html

Thanks!
Rebecca and James

3 Wells to be completed!

Great news!  We are only $2,000 short of building our 3rd well!  This has been the most incredible journey to reconnect with friends and share in this project together.  Everyone has been so generous in their donations, doing what they can, to help this community in Uganda.  

We are building a well in Godlive's yard, across from the school which will help all those families of school children.  Instead of walking 1 1/2 miles to and from home before school to collect water for their families, they can bring the water home after school for their families.  The children will also be able to drink clean water during school, which they had difficulty doing previously.  Godlive took Kirabo in when she had nothing, in order to help him live.

Our second well is going to Anuscianta's village.  She heard about Kirabo's situation when he was barely surviving and, going against family wishes and risking retribution, she snuck him milk and eventually rescued him.  Her village also has to walk 1 1/2-2 miles each way for water.

Our third well is going to Mattia's village.  He was the head of the Good Samaritan's who took Kirabo when Anuscianta rescued him.  He found Godlive to take Kirabo in and helped collect resources from the village to feed him.  He baptized him and helped him have his last rights read in case he didn't make it.  Mattia has been instrumental in getting the first well going and forming a water board in that community, with no benefit to himself.  He took days off work to see this project happen.  At the end, he humbly mentioned how his village was in dire straits with no access to water as well.  We heard his request and you responded!  

We need $2,000 more to bring Mattia the well for his village. We need an additional $2,000 to keep in an account for general upkeep for all 3 wells.  We have a wonderful friend who will check on all 3 wells once a month to make sure all wells are fully functioning and being maintained properly to ensure these wells continue to bring water and life to these people.

Water boards in each community are being formed so the people have ownership over their wells.  Teenagers have formed their own committee to train others about hygiene and well maintenance and why it is important.  Children are also being trained and are passing on the training.

This is happening!  Ground is breaking any day and we will post pictures as soon as that happens.

Thanks so much!  If you can donate anything more to help us get the third well dug, here is the link:

http://www.globalvillageconnect.org/kirabos-well.html