Clean Start for Water Day

The Water/Sanitation Program kicked off with a great round of training on the basics of water contamination, how it makes us sick and how we can prevent waterborne diseases by integrating simple practices into our daily routine. The theme was “It Begins with You”. To take this theme to the next level, I wondered if a good next step might be to encourage the Water/Sanitation Representatives (WatSan Reps) to put some of their good ideas into practice. I heard many of them in the field talk about the drainage ditches that need to get dug and the erosion protection that should be implemented to protect the springs where their families and neighbors are drawing drinking water from.

So, we launched an experiment on December 2- “Clean Start for Water Day”.

I know, I’m a little behind in posting. The idea was that the newly trained WatSan Reps would lead their Nuru groups in a special project at their local spring. We held a workshop and helped the watsan reps brainstorm ideas for possible projects. They each developed a project proposal and reviewed it together with Lucas and me. I was impressed with the outcome of the workshop; their ideas were well thought out and the reps were excited to get to work.

I was even more impressed with the turnout for Clean Start for Water Day. On December 2, in villages throughout Kuria, 173 people representing 20 Nuru groups worked hard at over 25 springs. The project managers that day were the the WatSan Reps and they led well!


Jake, Doug and Janine, joined Lucas and I for a tour of a few projects. When we arrived the WatSan Reps were so proud to show off their work. Many trimmed bushes and grasses to improve the flow of their water supply as well as the safety of the paths that lead to them. Others dug drainage ditches to prevent rainfall runoff (often rich with fertilizer from farms and fecal matter from animals and humans, especially where latrines aren’t available) from getting into their drinking water. Men, mamas and children working together with their hands, shovels, jembes (hoes), pangas (machetes), and homemade brooms.

I am so pleased with the results of our little experiment. Days later, people are still buzzing about their projects and when they see Lucas and me in the field they plead with us to come see the work they did on Clean Start for Water Day. And people are now asking us what’s next. It was a great note to end on before the holiday break. And, I love that the very first water projects were designed by WatSan Reps and implemented by them alongside their neighbors.

It was fun to share the day with the team. Here's a shot of us looking a little wild in the field.