The United Nations has decreed May 15 International Day
of Families. All over the world this coming Wednesday we will celebrate the family as the bedrock of
social relations.
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| Kevina collects water from her new tank |
UDS will be celebrating and supporting the family in
Uganda, as we do every day. One way we help families in rural areas is by
constructing domestic water tanks, to collect rainwater and provide households
with a regular supply of fresh water.
UDS has built five more water tanks in the first three months of this year, and our programme is forging ahead. Beatrice Kaguna in Bugaya subcountry is one of the lucky recipients of a new water tank. It’s changed her life. It’s also changed the life of her mother, Kevina Nambi, now in her late seventies.
Kevina spends her days looking after her five grandchildren. Cooking and washing for them requires a regular supply of water, and with only two pots to collect water from the local borehole Kevina simply couldn’t manage.
UDS has built five more water tanks in the first three months of this year, and our programme is forging ahead. Beatrice Kaguna in Bugaya subcountry is one of the lucky recipients of a new water tank. It’s changed her life. It’s also changed the life of her mother, Kevina Nambi, now in her late seventies.
Kevina spends her days looking after her five grandchildren. Cooking and washing for them requires a regular supply of water, and with only two pots to collect water from the local borehole Kevina simply couldn’t manage.
“I am a caretaker of five children; every day. I cook for
them and I make sure they have bathed. This never used to be done with ease
until I received a water tank here” she told us when we visited. “At this age,
I can’t carry a big container, even if I did, I cannot do it many times because
of the long distance.”
But on the day we went to see how she was getting on,
Kevina visibly joyous as she prepared bananas for the evening meal.
“This tank is a blessing, it is a new year’s gift for me, and I don’t know how to thank you but God knows how he will reward you” she says. “My neighbours can now get water for home use too,” she added.
“This tank is a blessing, it is a new year’s gift for me, and I don’t know how to thank you but God knows how he will reward you” she says. “My neighbours can now get water for home use too,” she added.
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| Fred Wandira with his 3,000-litre tank |
And thanks to the initiative of UDS’ local coordinators
and constructors, we may in future be able to provide bigger tanks. Our
standard tanks hold 2,000 litres, but UDS coordinator Fred Wandira asked us for
extra cement and built himself a tank that holds 3,000 litres. Following that,
one of our water tank constructors decided to build a 4,000 litre tank at his
father’s home. A tank this size can supply a household of 8 people for 30 days
without rain.
We’ve inspected these tanks, and so far they seem to be
working well, so UDS is now evaluating whether we can start building larger
tanks in the future.
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