Week 6 - From Rakai to Ssese -- Putting Theory into Practice

Location: Kampala


The previous week in Rakai, we were introduced to the theoretical methodology of how community health initiatives are implemented in rural areas. This week we had the opportunity to participate first-hand in the process. Our purpose -- to extend access to clean water by installing a new water pipe that would reach other parts of the community. While in theory this seemed easy enough, in actuality, we faced a number of challenges that were directly outlined in the theoretical protocol of our Rakai trip. One of the key features of this protocol was community involvement. We learned that a similar project was undertaken a while back only to be met with failure because the community was not actively participating. Either the maintenance of the water was inadequate or they refused to pay because they misunderstood the conditions of the water, in any case, the lack of community involvement crippled the project in the past. This time around, there was a large emphasis to mobilize the community in the project. During the process, there were many locals involved in digging, cutting grass and negotiating on behalf of the the water project. In fact, in areas beyond those completed by us, there was a requirement for each family to contribute labor.

Additionally we also witnessed the effects of improper community sensitization. After previously clearing the project with a woman whose land we would be digging through, we later realized that she had objections that she quite emphatically began to raise just as we were about to begin digging. Luckily, Joel, our community ambassador, had such a powerful reputation in the area with all of his previous work that the issue was eventually dropped and we were able to proceed as planned.

Aside from the logistical concerns and planning processes, I was surprised by the size of the project in terms of manual labor as well. The pipe was extended roughly a half a kilometer from the old pipe and involved many key steps including locating the old pipe, clearing tall grass, digging a three foot deep trench, untangling the pipe, laying it down, connecting the pipe to the pump and tap and finally replacing the soil to cover the new pipe. Luckily, the community was very involved in the initial digging process, which was the most physically daunting task. Ultimately the project was a success and we left with the satisfaction of knowing that we contributed to bringing a vital resource to a community previously depending on a less than adequate alternative.