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West has a vision for the world
The water supply dam in Kigumba, Uganda. People travel up to four miles to draw water from this supply dam. The Kaduku Water Project’s objective is to drill a deep borehole water well that will provide clean water for the people of this region. |
The U.S. Western Territory, casting a global vision, has provided funds to help supply clean water to two communities in East Africa: the Kaduku Water Project, Uganda and the Boyani Water Supply, Kenya. The West has a history of financial commitment to the Army’s grant-aided territories in support of needed programs.
Both projects evolved from the local communities expressing their need for a clean water supply, and the local Salvation Army worked to facilitate the provision of the water. In both instances a local committee exists, comprised of community members who are committed to providing some funding and who ensure maintenance of the water supply once the project is complete.
The Kaduku Corps is in a remote area in Kigumba, northwestern Uganda. According to the project report, Salvation Army officers and the community of about 1,500 people travel nearly four miles to fetch water from the water supply dam. This water is not fit for human consumption; it is shared with dogs, domestic/wild animals, people bathing and women doing washing.
People from a large area use this dam. While the Army officers take every precaution with their personal water, they sometimes must take risks when visiting people if they are offered water. Recently, an officer’s wife was diagnosed with the disease bilharzia.
The Kaduku Water Project’s specific objectives are to drill a borehole 75 meters deep to reach sufficient water that will not dry up and to provide pipes and a hand pump for drawing the water. Meeting these specifics accomplishes the overall goal of providing safe drinking water. Other objectives include the eradication of diseases such as bilharzia and typhoid, improved corps health facilities, improved community health, and a reduction in the walking distance to fetch water.
The West provided $10,500 to the completion of this project, which the Kaduku Corps and community members have vowed to maintain.
The Boyani Corps is in the western part of Kenya. Boyani is a densely populated area; the initial population this project would serve is about 2,500 people. The project report states that the people draw water form the polluted rivers—water that is often dirty and unfit for human use. According to the report, “Many cases of water borne disease outbreaks, especially typhoid and the dreaded cholera have terrorized the population.”
The local people have expressed this issue as their most pressing need. They took the concern to their local government leaders who in turn shared the issue with corps officer and the divisional commander. The Salvation Army is highly respected and recognized in the area for caring for the needs of the whole person: body, mind and soul.
The specific objectives of the Boyani Water Supply Project are to drill a borehole 80 meters deep; to install a large elevated steel/plastic tank; to construct a masonry rank; to construct a pump house, install electricity and construct drainage; to provide water pipes, taps and fence the pump house; and to provide chemicals for treating the water and the solution tank.
The West contributed $31,600 towards this project.
The Boyani community will sustain the project through local fundraisers, water sales, donations from friends and well wishers and a membership fee.
Both of these East Africa endeavors, the Kaduku Water Project and the Boyani Water Supply Project, meet the East Africa Territory’s mission to care for the whole person and to develop individuals intellectually. For the U.S. Western Territory, we are able to help our global neighbors attain a higher, healthier standard of living and so be able to focus on spiritual matters. We continue to “cast a global vision.”