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AEE Rwanda projects have built many water sources over the years. We talk here to the local communities at two water kiosks built in 2019.
Rusenyi Water Kiosk
This a community facility in every sense of the term. People gather together, lining up their jerry cans to fill, chatting while waiting their turn. Bicycle delivery riders strap up to twleve 20L containers onto their bikes. That's 240kg of water to deliver. It's a meeting point, a business place, and a source of clean water.
Chantal manages the water kiosk at Rusenyi. Before the water kiosk came, Chantal says that "we used to get water down in the marshlands. It's about a two walk there and back, so you can only carry one jerry can." Adults and children had to get up early to fetch water before work and school, but now "this water tap has greatly changed our lives. Today we just go and fetch water from this tap and go back home."
The water is safer too, and families no longer have to contend with illnesses caused by waterborne bacteria and worms.
Chantal opens the kiosk at 6AM and it shuts at 7PM. She is proud of the price for water here, "at some water taps they sell a jerry can at RWF 100. Some places even sell at RWF 500, but here a jerry can only costs RWF 20 to fill."
Filling a jerry can at a spring down in the marshlands (left) and at a kiosk (right).
Even with the sand filtered spring, the risk of waterborne diseases and parasites is much higher than the treated water from the kiosk.
Bidudu Water Kiosk
Filoette is the executive officer and Jean Bosco the health advisor for Byniza Cell in Rwmagana District. They have oversight of the water kiosk at Bidudu village.
The kiosk has been an important improvement to the community's health. Jean Bosco says, "for us community health workers, it wasn't easy to challenge people who were fetching water from the lake as it was the only water source they could reach. But today, we can educate them to fetch water from the kiosk taps for their good health, avoiding diseases such as diarrhea." Filotte explains further that the lake is particularly prone to waterborne worms due to fish farming.
The kiosk charges RWF 20 to fill a 20L jerry can, but those who just need a drink can drink for free. Everyone is asked to clean their containers before refilling.
The kiosk has also helped the nearby school, as Filotte explains, "this location os far from any other water sources, so people would go to the local school, walking through the grounds and distrurning the students. So, we ensure that water from this kiosk keeps flowing to protect all community members."
Left: The Bidudu water kiosk, built July 2019. Right: Jean Bosco and Filotte at the water kiosk
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