Reflections back home

Imelda and I collecting water
WaterAid / Zute Lightfoot

I've been home for two weeks now and have had time to reflect on our amazing trip to Zambia.  The country was beautiful and the people we met were welcoming and friendly, regardless of their personal circumstances.  While we saw examples of the awful reality of people who have to survive without access to safe, clean water and proper sanitation facilities, we also saw positive examples of how relatively simple solutions can quite literally change lives for the better.


To fully benefit from safe water and sanitation, communities need to know about the links between diseases and unsafe hygiene practices.  Hygiene education focuses on issues such as personal hygiene - the simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by a third.  Until WaterAid begins working with the communities many people are unaware that it is the dirty water and poor sanitation practices that makes them ill.

Education of children at school is important because they can take the messages home with them.  At Chiyoobola school we heard children reciting poems that they had written about water and sanitation and later in the week we watched some short plays that a theatre group performs to help promote key messages.

Education also helps provide communities with simple solutions that help improve their day to day lives, including the tippy-tap and a rack for drying their pots, pans and dishes.

Another aspect of WaterAid's work that also stood out, was the importance that is placed on community participation - from the initial planning and building through to managing and maintaining projects.  Individuals within communities are given responsibility and committees are set-up to ensure water pumps are maintained and can be repaired if they break.  Other committees are set-up to ensure the WASHE messages are communicated and understood within communities.

I always knew that WaterAid looks to provide sustainable solutions by providing communities with the skills and support to be able to improve their lives. The visit has really bought home just how important the hygiene education and sensitisation aspects of their work is.

WaterAid / Zute Lightfoot

I feel very privileged to have been part of the supporters' trip that visited Zambia in 2012.  I would urge anyone reading my blog to contribute in whatever way they feel they can to help make a difference.  Just £15 can enable one person to access a lasting supply of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.  More information can be found on the WaterAid website.

De-brief with WaterAid Zambia

Our final meeting of the trip was with the WaterAid Zambia (WAZ) staff at their offices in Lusaka.  This was a useful exercise as we had all gained a lot more information during the course of the week and had lots of questions!

The Zambia country strategy until 2015 is to remain within the WASHE sector with a shift towards more cross sector collaboration with areas such as health, education and environment.  At present 90% of funding comes from donors while 10% is funded by the Government.  While there is a reliance in fundraising in the UK, they would like to encourage in-country fundraising as well.

WAZ chairs the netional NGO WASHE forum where 21 member organisations meet on a monthly basis.  Sub-committees have been set-up to investigate specific issues and co-ordinate promotional activities.  The role of WAZ in influencing and advocacy is extremely important.

The five year plan is developed through partner organisations in each area.  These are assessed for feasibility and cost before being prioritised.  The plan is forwarded to WaterAid in London for agreement on an annual basis. Each partner has a Partner Project Agreement (PPA) which sets out the key deliverables along with budget allocations.  Each PPA is reviewed on a monthly and quarterly basis.

At present WAZ works in two areas of Zambia - one in the north and one in the south.  70% of work is in rural communities while 30% is in urban or peri-urban communities.  The need is more pronounced in rural areas as people don't have the opportunities to be able to provide solutions for themselves.

Day 5 - High density slums

Today was by far the most shocking visit of our trip to Zambia.  Having left Monze early in the morning we arrived back in Lusaka before visiting one of 39 urban settlements in the capital.  Ngombe is an unplanned, illegal high density slum where it is estimated around 80,000 people live.

We met with WaterAid Zambia and representatives from the local partner, Keeper Zambia Foundation and other community organisations, such as the health committee and the environmental health technicians.  A pilot project began here in 2009 to identify what help could be given to the residents of the slum.

Sanitation was a huge problem here.  Not only was there a complete lack of privacy but people were using naive practices such as defecating into bags or into holes in the ground.  In 2009 the baseline of people with access to toilet facilities was only 3%.  It is now estimated that this has increased to 50-60% - a huge improvement but still a long way to go.  The level of illness is high and it has been shown that 80% of typhoid cases in the area have originated from the Ngombe settlement.


Case Study - Richard and family:

I met Richard and his five children.  He has lived in Ngombe for 20 years and is now the proud owner of a brand new latrine.  Before looking at the new latrine, Richard showed me the old pit latrine that they used to use - it was basically a hole in the ground surrounded by a very flimsy screen.  It was small, smelly and not at all hygienic - his daughters didn't feel safe using it, particularly at night time.  The new latrine was brick built and had a wooden door that could be locked from the inside for privacy and from the outside to prevent others using it without permission.

The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHE) committee has a huge job to do. They visit households one by one to provide advice and guidance. Changing people's behaviour is a challenge and they need to visit on a regular basis to try to re-inforce the messages and provide further support. To understand how successful the project is they are collecting data on the number of households with sanitation facilities and the number of instances of diarrhoea or other water borne diseases.


Later in the afternoon we walked down to a stream.  At first glance it looked a very busy place, but on closer inspection you could see how bad the situation really was.  Right on the edge of the slum, it was the boundary between rich and poor - just a few hundred metres away were walled compounds which were obviously a world away from what we were experiencing.

There was a rubbish dump on the edge of the stream, kids were playing in the water, women and children were washing themselves and clothes, animals were using it and we were told that some people also used it for drinking even though they have been told that they should not.  Some from our group met a lady who lived near the stream and had knocked a hole in her latrine to prevent it over-flowing when it rained - unfortunately this meant that the over-flow drained straight into the stream - adding further to the pollution.

We all found this scene extremely upsetting as it was quite simply awful to see what the people here have to deal with.  It was difficult to hide our emotions and we were a very subdued group that evening when we had our de-brief.

Much as I hated seeing what we did at Ngombe, it has helped me understand more than ever just how important the work that WaterAid and their local partners is.

Day 4 - Solar powered water treatment and water kiosks

Solar powered water treatment

Today we visited the town of Chisekeshi, which was the first project to be completed through WaterAid's partners Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWSC) and the local authority.  As with many towns, Chisekeshi has grown up around a junction on the main road through the Southern Province.  Approximately 2,500 people live within the urban catchment served by SWSC.

The solar powered water supply installed here was a pilot project. A borehole was drilled and a submersible pump was installed to supply two water kiosks. The project has been successful, however, there is still an issue of cloud cover - there isn't a battery back-up and therefore when it is cloudy the pump does not work.

The initial installation cost was higher than a conventional supply, however the ongoing running costs are lower.  As with the tank we saw earlier in the week, the supporting structure could take a larger tank when demand is higher.

We visited one of the water kiosks serving the town.  Alice is the local operator and she has received training to ensure the kiosk is run effectively.  She works on a commission basis - 40% of all water sales, which in a typical month may be 10,000 Zambian Kwacha (£1.20).  When it is cloudy, no water is available and therefore the kiosk remains closed.

The water kiosk

Local residents have a pre-payment arrangement for water - each household has a book that records payments and the amount of water taken.

Since the water kiosks have been installed the health of the residents has improved, as before they would collect water from shallow, open wells, which wasn't very hygienic.

Later in the morning we visited Muzoka, a peri-urban area where there is currently no presence from the utility company SWSC.  We met with some local representatives ask questions about the current water supply situation.  It was an information sharing exercise only at this stage.

They currently have two boreholes, but these have to serve a growing population, which is currently around 2,500 people.  In the dry season demand is too high and as a result many people have to queue for a long time to collect water (we were told that the queue would often be 30-40 metres by 05.00) and quarrels often break out.  The other options are to dig shallow wells or walk 4km to collect water from another area.


One of the hand pumps was broken - it had been installed by another organisation about 6 years ago and although committees were set-up, they were not provided with appropriate trainging to maintain and repair it.  As a consequence no one has been able to use the pump for about three months.

An open well

The residents seemed to understand that there was a link between the quality of the water they drink and the illnesses that people suffer - they knew that the water from wells and streams makes them ill, but they have no choice.

We were taken to see an open well that people use to collect drinking water.  The well in the photo was in a field about 200 metres from the main road.  You can't see it in the photo, but it was difficult to access (the ground around it was water-logged) and it also looked as though it was contaminated with run-off from the road (there was an oily sheen on the surface of the water).

Day 3 - Peri-urban and rural work

The third day saw us travel to the peri-urban community of Batoka in the morning and the rural village of Silimi in the afternoon.

In Batoka, a small town with approximately 2,500 residents, we met staff from the local water utility - Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWSC).  Water utilities were managed by the local authorities until 1999 when they were privatised in an attempt to increase their efficiency.  Solely concerned with providing water and sewerage in urban areas, SWSC has a vision that everyone will one day have access to a water supply 24/7 - and they will all be metered!  However, until recently the company was loss-making and has only recently begun to break even.


The water tank


The Technical Manager explained that there were three main areas of concern in Batoka - the size of the tank holding treated water, the water pressure at the customers' taps and the state of repair of the distribution network.  A new tank and treatment process (simple chlorine dosing) was funded by WaterAid Zambia.  As seen in this picture, the supporting structure is over-sized so that at some point in the future they can increase the capacity of the tank at the top.

Some customers received a metered supply, while others are on a fixed rate tariff.  Those who don't have their own supply are able to collect water from communal taps - often from a water kiosk, where water is paid for in advance.

Interestingly enough, people who don't pay their water bills can be cut off!  Water efficiency is also an important part of the role of the water utility.

Some of the Molenga family with WaterAid supporters
(Roida is the lady in the blue skirt)

We visited the home of Alfred Molenga and his family.  His wife Roida was able to answer our questions about the service they receive from SWSC.  Although they have a tap in their house, because of the poor water pressure they do not use it.  They do have an outdoor tap, but they are only able to obtain water at certain times of the day - from 06.00 to 08.00, 12.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 18.00.  If they require water at other times they have to use a nearby hand pump.  When asked what the benefits of having a good water supply were, Roida told us that: 

1. They don't have to walk long distances to collect water
2. It stops the quarrels that used to break out at the communal water points
3. Their health has improved
4. The children don't have to collect water before going to school and can wash their school uniforms
5. They can grow more vegetables in their garden

The sewage from the house drains to a septic tank in the garden.  SWSC will empty the tank when necessary.

Silimi is a rural village that is in the early stages of intervention and has so far attained 70% sanitation coverage.  This village of 46 households (about 280 residents) appeared to be very proactive and receptive to the work that WaterAid instigated.  Before installing a water point, the village were told they should build latrines, rubbish pits and racks for drying pots and pans.  The work to do this began in August 2011 and the borehole for the water point was sunk on 28 November 2011.


Completing the roof for a latrine

The maintenance committee is an important part of the project.  Training has been given to a number of people to ensure they can maintain the water point themselves by doing things such as greasing and checking nuts and bolts.

In groups we went to help families complete different activities needed to build a latrine - moulding the cement base, digging the pit and building roofs.  Despite the rain, this was a hugely rewarding afternoon, as most of us saw the 'completed item'.  Our group helped finish a 'thatched' roof for a latrine and then lift it into place.  The finishing touch was to tidy up the bottom of the thatch and make sure there were no gaps.

Day 2 - A rural community school and village

Our second day was spent in the rural Chipembele ward to the south-west of Monze.  In the morning we visited we visited Chiyoobola School and in the afternoon we visited the village of Mavwali.

In 2008 WaterAid implemented a project in partnership with Monze District Council to install a water point, toilets and hand washing facilities at Chiyoobola School.  Around 900 pupils ranging in age from six to 15 years old attend the school.

One of the school toilets

A large group of children and teachers greeted us at the school.  Formal introductions were made, the Zambian national anthem was sung and the children read a number of short poems inspired by the hygiene education they have received.

We were told that since the water point, toilets and hand washing facilities were installed the instances of diarrhoea and other water borne diseases (such as cholera and dysentery) amongst the children have been virtually eradicated.

Another benefit is the increased attendance of girls once they reach maturity.  Before the toilets were installed, girls would often miss school, however they can now take a bath in safety while they are at school.

Groups of children are selected to collect water from the water point on a daily basis and bring it to fill up the tanks that feed the hand washing facilities.  They were all aware of the reasons for using the toilets and washing their hands afterwards.  Children have been able to take home the hygiene messages to pass onto their parents and other family members.

Later in the morning a VIP visited the school - His Royal Highness Chief Ufwenuka is in charge of the local area.  Formal introductions are regarded very seriously and we were all briefed in advance on how we should greet him.  We had to kneel in front of him, clap five times and then shake hands, while looking humble!
 After lunch the pupils entertained us by reading some more poems and then singing and dancing.  Although nowhere near as good as the children, our group of supporters did join in with the dancing when asked - much to everyones amusement!

We arrived at the village of Mavwali (with HRH Chief Ufwenuka accompanying us), to yet another big welcome with singing and dancing.  There are 32 households and a population of 365 in the village.  WaterAid worked with its partners to install a water point for the village and toilets for every household.

A map showing the location of toilets in the village

The head man of the village explained how WaterAid had told them why so many people were ill or had died, but initially they did not believe them.  After a while they began to accept the messages they were being told and agreed to build some latrines - WaterAid even provided the cement to help them do this.  Since they have had toilets they aren't ill so often and don't need to visit the hospital so often.  This example reinforces the fact that the 'soft' sensitisation and education process is so important and that it isn't a case of simply providing the 'hard' infrastructure only.

There are two committees within the village - one to maintain the water point (they have been trained to be able to maintain the water pump and fix it if necessary) and one to provide the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHE).

Angelina with her 'tippy tap'
hand washing station

The villagers are still ambitious and were expressing their desire for more water points.  Because the households are quite widespread they still have to walk quite a way to get their water supply and in the rainy season a stream can prevent some households from reaching the existing water point.

At the moment each family grows enough crops for themselves.  If they had better access to water they may be able to grow more crops and sell any excess so that they can fund their children's education.

The picture on the left shows Angelina with her 'tippy tap' which is located just outside her latrine.  They use ash as a cleansing agent and have a foot pedal to tip up a water container.  There is a plant beneath which will only grow if the tap is being used on a regular basis - a simple way of checking whether or not people are washing their hands after going to the toilet!

Day 1 - A day in the life of

Our first full day in Zambia saw us visiting the rural village of Haboombe in the south-west of Zambia.  After a very early start from our base in Monze, we had a three hour, mainly off-road drive - including crossing two rivers - to reach the village.  Seven 4x4 vehicles arriving at the village must have looked quite a sight!

Greeted by lots of singing and dancing

The greeting we received from the village was amazing. There was music, singing, dancing and an air of general excitement.  Everyone was so pleased to see us and were so welcoming.

After a formal greeting and introduction by the Chief of the village we went in pairs to spend the day with different families so that we could experience 'a day in the life of' and try to understand more fully the problems that they face in their day-to-day lives without access to safe water or sanitation facilities.

My colleague Grant and I spent the day with Onesmas, his wife Imelda and their family.  They have five children ranging in age from 15 to three years old.  The eldest daughter, Caroline, didn't live with them, but with her grand-mother in a different village so that she was able to go to school.

We were able to find out what the family does in a typical day. This included collecting water, preparing food, looking after their animals and tending the crops in their field.

Imelda pounding roots to make a sweet beer


In the dry season the families from Haboombe have to walk over 9km to collect water.  Imelda told us that she would rise at 3am so that she could start this essential daily journey.  She also told us that they have to use water very sparingly at this time of year because it is such a precious resource.  Some families even move away from the village during this time of year so that they can be closer to a water supply.

During the rainy season (which it was when we visited) there is a stream a few hundred metres from their household.  Although this is more convenient as they can collect water a number of times a day, the water in the stream is not clean and safe.  The stream is used for a variety of activities - washing clothes, washing pots and pans as well as bathing.  However, animals also use the stream and other pollutants wash into it when it rains.

As a result of having to use dirty water the family, and in particular the children are often ill with diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.  When they are ill the nearest health clinic is also a 9km walk, so it is difficult to get proper medical assistance.

During our visit I needed to go to the toilet so I asked Imelda where I could go.  She seemed embarrassed when she told me that I would have to go to the bushes just behind their household as there were no toilets in the village.  When I returned Imelda told me that she didn't like doing this as it wasn't safe or hygienic.

Onesmas ready for lunch

Later in the afternoon I walked with Imelda to collect water from the stream.  It is quite a steep, unstable path down to the stream and once there we had to wade across to the opposite side.  Imelda dug a hole in the sandy bank and waited for water to begin filling the hole.  Then we used a shallow bowl to scoop the water up and pour it into a 20 litre container.  I tried lifting the container but struggled to move it more than a couple of metres.  Yet Imelda, who is a very petite woman, lifted the container onto her head and carried it back up the steep slope to her home.

WaterAid is beginning to work with the households in Haboombe village to understand in more detail the problems that they face and to begin the education process that provides health and hygiene messages.  It is hoped that within the next few years there will be a water point in the village and latrines for every household.