Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Projects
Dirty water and a lack of good hygiene are one of the biggest killers of children in South Sudan: 1 in 10 die before they turn five.
South Sudan has one of the highest rates of child mortality (rate of children dying before they reach the age of five) in the world (world bank). Diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia kill countless children in South Sudan every year. But they can be easily prevented by using clean water and washing hands with soap.
AID supports local churches in South Sudan, northern Kenya and refugee camps in Uganda to spread hygiene knowledge, build latrines, repair hand pumps and drill boreholes alongside preaching the Gospel. By meeting some of the physical needs of their communities as well as their spiritual needs, churches are a beacon of light, demonstrating Christ’s love and compassion.
Trumpeter Community Health
For over a decade, AID have supported Trumpeter Community Health, a church-led NGO in Juba, South Sudan. A team of 20 community volunteers visited households in Juba to help families understand the dangers of dirty water and poor hygiene and to give them the tools to combat water-borne diseases – digging latrines, using water purification tablets, and rehydration solutions. During their visits they would also look out for more vulnerable members of the community and refer them to local clinics.
After ten years and 30 boreholes, Trumpeter Community Health is handing maintenance to local water committees while expanding to help other church leaders meet community needs.
What difference have the Trumpeters made?
“They have visited my home several times with different topics like handwashing with soap. We were all taught the five steps of hand washing which is very crucial. I have been able to teach my grandchildren and my children.
Since I learned all these, we have not had anyone who has become sick in the family. The most common diseases that have frequently affected my family members are eye infection and diarrhoea, and all these are related to use of dirty water in the household.
I thank God for Trumpeter Community Health.”
Lily Poni has five children and lives with her son’s family. During the day, Lily’s son and his wife go to work and she looks after her grandchildren.
“For the past 6 years Munuki block A has transformed from a place of open defecation and dirty streets to clean compounds, decreased open defecation and clean streets. Besides just transforming the environment, the community health workers have transformed the lives of many people including vulnerable families. They have also been praying and fellowshipping with the community to help them in spiritual growth.”
Tabitha Muthui, AID East Africa Manager
Water Management Committees in Juba
Trumpeter Community Health now focuses on training and equipping local water management committees in Juba to ensure that boreholes and hygiene practices are sustained in the long term.
Remijo Lado Lino, who has led the project since its inception in 2014, and his small team of WaSH officers are passing on their knowledge to local community members through practical training sessions in Juba.
Transforming clean water provision in Rokon
Work began in the town of Rokon, 53 miles west of Juba, in 2024, to rehabilitate 30 boreholes, install 5 handwashing points, and train hygiene visitors. This was thanks to a grant from Guernsey Overseas Aid which has transformed clean water provision in the town as well in the new IDP Lumutu camp close by for over 15,000 people.
Clean water to support a new church in Walda, Kenya
In Kenya’s Marsabit area on the border with Ethiopia—an area where drought is a constant challenge—AID is providing a new deep borehole outside the church.
This will ease tensions between Muslims and Christians over access to water and support a new market garden project.
You Can Help!
Please pray for these projects. Providing boreholes is crucial to this work but also costly – if you are able to give financially to our current apeal for a new borehole in Walda then please click on the button below.