Latrine construction and hygiene improvement

Community Service avenues one of the four main avenues of service in Rotary, the Rotaract Club of KIE, in that understanding served a group of less fortunate women in the village of Nyange, Ngororero district, in the Western Province of Rwanda on 5^th of September 2015.

The group is originally supported by one Rotarian Britta Konitzer through her private means.

The group consisting of 20 women that are predominantly HIV-infected and widowed due to the genocide of 1994 is among the poorest of the poor. The women do not have the possibility to ensure the livelihood for their families as they cannot afford school fees and materials depending on their kid’s income themselves. In addition, the women are not able to cover health insurances as well as they do not have the chance for minor investments that could generate an income for them. The children are often underweight and malnourished. Basic sanitation needs such as toilets, showers or soaps cannot be met by these women.

Rotaractors constructing latrine

In line with the Rotary pillars “Disease prevention and treatment”, “Water and Sanitation” and “Economic and Community development” the Rotaract Club of KIE took the initiative of ensuring basic living standards, especially in the area of hygiene and health, for the families of Nyange.

Funded by German donations the Rotaract Club of KIE constructed latrines for five selected families in special need, supported by the Rotary family, especially the other Rotaract Clubs of Kigali city, SFB Kigali and Butare. Prior the project, those selected families did not have usable latrines, leading to high health risks.

PP Keza doing the handwashing session

In order to increase the impact on the entire community, the Clubs carried out a hand-washing session for the village, supported by local leaders. By strengthening the importance of hand washing and analyzing the effects of inadequate conduction, the awareness level for the importance of hand hygiene among the village inhabitants increased and will prevent diseases and other negative effects in the future. By equipping each of the five latrines with a hand-washing bucket and all villagers with soaps, the Clubs insured an implementation of the lesson learned.

Additionally fabrics donated by the Immediate past district governor for Rotary International district 9150, Rtn Jean Runuya were handed over to the group of women. The women will distribute the fabrics according to need and availability.

The project lays a sustainable foundation for meeting basic hygiene standards among the inhabitants of Nyange Village. Five families received latrines with the necessary size for accommodating a hand-washing bucket and serving as a shower. Additionally, awareness on the importance of hand-hygiene was raised and supplements distributed. Donated district cloths will also support the women to improve hygiene and prevent from various diseases.

Rtr Jana pauses with one of the beneficiaries after latrine construction

The Rotaract Club of KIE highly appreciates the help of all supporters that made it possible to 

have a long-term impact on the community.

President Bash and CP Norryn giving away hygiene items

      

Promoting reading culture and Hygiene

It is customary for rotaract clubs to identify community needs and address them in line with the 6 Rotary areas of focus; promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.

At the same time, reading is one of the things that still need to be addressed especially in secondary and primary school to inculcate a culture of reading amongst students in Rwanda.
 That is why the Rotaract club of KIE, Kigali Rwanda in partnership with the Rotaract Club of Bweyogerere Uganda and Rwanda Library Service on Saturday 21st/02/2015 convened at Groupe scholaire Kabusunzu/Kabusunzu primary and secondary school, Kigali  to help students read, donate books and also donate handwashing cans and posters to help improve hygiene at the school.

For a couple of weeks, the rotaract club of KIE (host club)underwent intensive preparations and  worked tirelessly from identifying the school, the need, the materials, partners for the project etc.

The event started at 2pm with introductions and opening remarks from the Deputy headmaster of Kabusunzu primary and secondary school. After, the floor was open to students to read from their choice of books. It was so interesting how students some students were able to read very well, however, some found trouble airing out words and keeping the consistence.

Rotaractors took time in between to correct and facilitate students how they can read better. More to that rotaractors later on read to students which was quite a learning experience for students on how to be a good reader. the President of the Rotaract Club of KIE, Nyoni Jean Luke expressed, in his speech, the importance of reading. "Reading should not just stop at school curriculum and syllabus, but also our normal day to day life should be refreshed by new knowledge and information though reading". He added.

After the reading exercises, handwashing demonstration lead by the Rctr Bahati, the president of the rotaract club of Bweyogerere, Kampala Uganda. it was so eye catching that everyones' attention was drawn to the President Bahati. The demonstration went well.

After that both clubs donated more than 200 books to Kabusunzu primary and secondary school with the help of Rwanda Library Services. Also a watering can and handwashing posters were handed over to the school administration to help improve the hygiene.

The Rotaract clubs of Kigali City, Kampala city and SFB kigali participated and honored the event.

Closing remarks and appreciations from the school were made by the deputy headmaster.
The event ended with group and individual photos and networking.

By DRR Vumi