Two small charities making a difference through WASH
As part of Global Handwashing Day (15 October), we put a spotlight on two Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF) grant holders who are making a difference in their target communities through WASH interventions.
Christian Engineers in Development
Handwashing is at the heart of Christian Engineers in Development’s (opens in a new tab) project in Tarparkar, Pakistan.
Working alongside its partner, Participatory Village Development Programme (PVDP) (opens in a new tab), Christian Engineers in Development is promoting improved hygiene practices in 10 rural villages to enhance the lives of more than 5,000 people.
A key part of this promotion is raising awareness of the importance of hand washing. Handwashing is a cheap, effective way of preventing the spread of germs and diseases. Local people are taught how and when to wash their hands and how effective hand hygiene is the first step toward keeping their communities healthy.
So far, the handwashing promotion in the community has reduced the number of people getting ill which, in turn, has reduced absenteeism amongst schoolchildren.
Teso Development Trust
Creating projects with collaboration at their core is fundamental to the work of Teso Development Trust (TDT (opens in a new tab). This is evident in its integrated approach to improve sanitation and hygiene in four rural villages in Kalaki, Uganda which looks beyond the provision of facilities and works closely with local communities to ensure its interventions are sustainable.
With its partner BIDS Foundation (opens in a new tab), TDT is aiming to construct four boreholes and 35 model latrines in the region through its SCCF grant. To ensure this leads to a long-term improvement for the community, local Water and Sanitation committees have been established. These committees will work to engage the wider community in good hygiene practice and maintain the facilities after the project ends.
‘Life was generally very difficult before because the main source of water for drinking and domestic use was an open dam … The water was not safe and clean for consumption and most households reported high cases of waterborne diseases,’ says Hellen Acipa, who is now part of one of the new Water and Sanitation committees.
Less than a year into the project, Hellen has already seen improvements: ‘As a result, some households have started to observe the principles and practices of hygiene, sanitation and safe water chain.’
The local community is also involved in the construction of the boreholes and latrines. The Chairperson of the local council was particularly pleased with this element of the project as he felt it would provide valuable experience to the youth of the community: ‘I very much appreciate the project because it is holistic in nature and geared towards making the youth self-reliant. I am now very excited that the young people are going to be engaged in productive activities’
