Getting to know the community!!!

Early on Wednesday, the project team met with our hydrogeologist, Isaiah Mawinda to confirm the location of the borehole at the Bishop Okoth Secondary School. Following the meeting with Isaiah, the team traveled to Kolunje to conduct community surveys. Upon arrival in Kolunje, the team split up into groups.

Meeting with Isaiah Mawinda

Students, Prachi Arawal and Colleen Thiersch and mentor Jonathan Reed visited the Miranga Sub-District Hospital to conduct a health assessment of the facilities and operations. The group collected valuable pre-implementation health metrics that can be used to compare data from post-implementation trips. The remaining students and mentor met with possible contractors for the construction of the guard house, fence and culvert. This group also investigated electricity rates in the Magwar Sub-Village. For the reminder of the day, the whole team began surveying families living within the proximity of the proposed borehole site. The team was guided by two local women, Maureen and Beria who also acted as translators.

Thursday also proved productive for the Kolunje Water Supply Project. The Rutgers team conducted our first group meeting with members of the Water and Sanitation Committee (WatSan). The team discussed a number of items that will affect the long-term operation and maintenance of the water system. Among other things, topics of discussion included the following:

• Training programs
• Employing facility managers and watchmen
• Establishing a fair and sustainable water fee
• Memorandum of Understanding

After meeting with the Water and Sanitation Committee, the students once again split into groups. The first group continued surveying families located near the proposed borehole location. The other group visited the 2013 graduating class of the secondary school. By the end of the day, a total of 21 families were surveyed and students from the secondary school were taught about the project, sustainable development, America and global engineering opportunities.

A group picture with our team members and the secondary school students

A collection of photos from Wednesday's and Thursday's activities have been posted here:

August 7-8 Photos.