Ugandan and Kenyan Partners Share Strategies

When it comes to raising awareness about the need for improved sanitation and hygiene in local communities, creativity and humor are seriously effective tools. This past month Lifewater's international partners in Uganda and Kenya shared ideas that will change thousands of lives.  In August 2007, Lifewater’s Sam Moore spent time in northern Uganda and western Kenya assessing the needs and capacity of Lifewater’s international partners to improve their strategies for training local communities to improve their sanitation and health.  He returned amazed by the creativity and dynamic strategies the partners were implementing.

In Uganda, Lifewater partner Divine Waters of Uganda (DWU) uses the inherent interests of the local villages to promote awareness: namely, music, drama, and soccer!  Earlier this year, DWU started a soccer league based on promoting hygiene and sanitation.  Each village or school club commits to learning the basics (with the help of DWU) and then creates skits, songs, and demonstration sites to perform for the huge crowds the games attract.  The villages are enthusiastic about supporting their clubs. DWU has its own team, comprised mainly of well drillers, biosand filter builders, hygiene coordinators, and a few interns!  The season has started successfully, and the final match will be a huge promotional event, bring together several communities to share ideas and experiences as they develop and maintain healthier homes.

DWU’s work in northern Uganda with sanitation and hygiene is especially important at this time as many internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning to their homes following a period of violence.  This rebuilding period is a unique opportunity to include plans for constructing sanitation facilities near homes and repopulated schools.  DWU has already helped community members dig over 60 latrine pits and provides SanPlats as an incentive for those who build their latrines first! SanPlats are sanitation platforms made of concrete installed on the floor of latrines. They are an improvement from wooden platforms since in many areas termites eat through the wood, putting people in danger of falling into the latrine pit.

During his time in East Africa, Sam traveled with Lifewater’s partners in Uganda to meet partners from Kenyan organization, GWAKO, who had planned a citywide sanitation promotion event in Kisumu, Kenya.  The events enjoyed a fantastic turnout, due in no small part to the two-hour long float procession, complete with transportation police escorts, large puppets, several dignitaries, and plenty of music.  The event, held on the grounds of a primary school, included songs, poetry, dancing, drama, and demonstrations, all created with the support of local villages and schools. 

The trip reminded Sam why Lifewater continues to believe that the best solutions to the water and sanitation crisis come from the local communities, and that Lifewater’s partners’ understanding of their communities makes the work exponentially more effective than anything Lifewater staff or volunteers could have planned. 

One unexpected benefit, however, was the reinforcement and encouragement Lifewater’s partners bring to each other, even when working in different countries.

“The trip was a true learning experience. The actors and involvement of local authorities and traffic police was good to capture the attention of the community. The most important thing I learned was the use of trapezium block in the construction of pit latrine lining in loose soil areas.”
Deleo, Director, DWU

“The important thing I learnt from Kisumu was first, their way of reaching the community through women’s groups and schools, as these are the largest groups within the community. Second, was the technical way of making VIP latrines and third was the promotion activities including the drama and songs that helped them to reach the community.”
Mary, Hygiene and Sanitation Coordinator, DWU

If you would like to support Lifewater’s work through our partners in Uganda and Kenya, please contact us or start now.