DR Congo – Bafwasende, Bafwaboli, Bafwadodi and Bafwamogo are the names of a few villages that recently gained access to clean drinking water. They are located in the province of Tshopo, where Join For Water is working with Tropenbos RDC to protect the rainforest and improve access to safe drinking water. This also includes a campaign on the correct use of drinking water and good hygiene.
The women of Bafwasende and several surrounding villages had to walk a long way to a pool in the forest to collect water. This was quite a chore, several times a day, and the water was not suitable for drinking. The Join For Water project now offers access to safe drinking water closer to home and at the same time encourages residents to prevent overexploitation of forests and water.
Clean drinking water
In cooperation with the population, eight wells were drilled in 2024 in six forests that are managed by the communities through a concession. Drilling was not easy because the subsoil is very hard and heavy machinery had to be used.
These boreholes provide clean drinking water and reduce the risk of diseases caused by drinking contaminated water, such as diarrhoea and cholera. There is some dissatisfaction about the taste of the water, but carbon filters can improve the taste and the quality of the drinking water is good, as confirmed by analyses. An extensive hygiene campaign has also been set up to raise awareness among the communities about the importance of storing water correctly and washing hands regularly.
Involvement ensures sustainability
A crucial aspect of the project is the involvement of the communities in the management of the water sources. In villages where there are community forest concessions (CFCL), the wells are managed by local management committees. In other villages, water management committees have been set up with the help of the village chiefs. These committees are responsible for maintaining the wells, repairing the pumps and managing the finances. Sustainable resource management is only possible by continually emphasising to the communities their own input and responsibility and by providing them with the necessary knowledge and resources.
Wash your hands!
In the villages where the drinking water supply has been properly organised, we are also working on improving hygiene. This is necessary because otherwise the positive effects of clean water are lost. A set of 9 drawings has been developed that our partners’ activity leaders or volunteers from the drinking water committee can use to raise awareness among families and schoolchildren about a number of important topics:
- Storing drinking water properly at home
- Washing hands after using the toilet and before eating
- Cleanliness in and around your home
- Collecting and disposing of waste
- …
The organiser brings together different groups such as members of the local committees, heads of families, teachers, school children, etc. The drawings are used as a starting point for a question and answer session about what is depicted in the drawing and what the message is. A session lasts about an hour and a follow-up is planned for a later date.
Tippy-tap
In the schools in Bafwasende, Join For Water and Tropenbos RDC held sessions about the tippy-tap. This is a simple construction for washing your hands under running water, for which you only need a water bottle, some bamboo sticks and a some rope. The pupils were quick to get the hang of it! See the photos below.
An example
What do you see in these drawings?
Make sure your children drink clean drinking water. It does not contain any germs. Mum will pour the water so that it is not spilled or polluted. Close the water bottles or jugs with a cap or lid to keep out insects and dust.
Store the drinking water in an elevated place. Do not drink from river water or ponds.
You should wash your hands after every visit to the toilet and after changing a baby’s nappy, for example. Otherwise you can transfer microbes from your hands to your mouth and make yourself sick. It is best to wash your hands under running water. You should also wash your hands with soap before eating. Parents should make sure that children wash their hands.
Pictures: © Huguette Tabaro – Join For Water
