The original shallow well that provided water to people in Shisholeka village
Completed well at Chongwe
Chongwe
Two protected wells for the 407 people in Shisholeka village were completed in October 2010 as part of a Water for Kids funded project. The work was carried out by Village Water under the supervision of the Zambian Institute of Environmental Health.
The village is in Chongwe, a sparsely populated rural area 40km from Lusaka. Contaminated shallow wells were the only water supply for the community prior to the new wells. The nearest clean water source was at least two kilometers away.
The project pilots the use of protected wells, a new type of well for Water for Kids, which is suitable for rural areas. They have been provided alongside sanitation and hygiene education to reduce the spread of food-borne diseases.
Village Water carried out its tried and tested Community Led Total Sanitation Programme, where community is educated in good hygiene practice and shown the benefits of self-help sanitation. Using stories, song, dance, pictures, music and humour the community workers sensitise the villagers to a new way of thinking and understanding. Most households benefiting from the clean water supply have built their own improved pit latrine and a wash stand.
The Neighbourhood Health Committee will ensure the new facilities are maintained for use well into the future. A formal handover took place on 1 June 2011, when trustees of Water for Kids were in Zambia.
The total cost of the project was £5,354.
