Afrinspire

Water is such a valuable commodity. Instant access to water is taken for granted in the West. Afrinspire is helping to make this a reality for a community in Uganda...

More water storage tanks are needed for homes at Rwancereere. Afrinspire wants to provide the funding for 100 families. Each household needs a tap, 40 centimetres of metal pipe and a bag or two of cement. The families can make bricks for the tanks from local clay but need help with what they have to buy in from outside.

It does rain almost daily for most of the year. The houses have corrugated metal roofs so it is quite feasible to collect water from the roof to meet water needs.

Rwancereere is a remote rural community located on the Uganda/Rwanda border in mountains 7000 feet above sea level and 18 miles from the nearest tarmac road or electricity. Afrinspire has been supporting the community for several years.

During the mid-90’s there was a major effort from the TEAR Fund Kigezi Water team which brought skills to build 2 storage tanks on the hill top collecting water from the roofs of the Church and School. They then attracted further funding to build a gravity water scheme of tanks, pipelines and taps to supply 2,500 people in the valley. This was possible because of the high degree of co-operation from the community itself. TEAR Fund also trained people in the making of water storage jars.

A lot of progress has been made with the protecting of water springs, but the mountains are steep and so people prefer to take water from the tanks near the hilltop. There is over-usage of these tanks and they are depleted too fast. The one way to relieve the situation is for each home near the hilltop to have its own small storage tank.

The cost is £12 to make a water jar and £25 to construct a 300 litre brick tank. So from £12 to £25 is needed per household depending on the size of the family and the roof to collect water from. This is a major undertaking for families who cultivate their land, grow their own food and exist in a virtually cash-less society. You can help a family.