World Vision Rwanda, this week launched the Inclusive WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) project which aims at improving the health and educational outcomes of children and communities in Nyamasheke District, through better access to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools and communities.

The four-year project unveiled on March 30, 2022, in Nyamasheke District, will be funded by The Phillips Foundation and it is expected to reach at least 53,700 beneficiaries including 24,700 children, with clean water. Inclusive WASH project will be implemented in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.

James Uwineza, one of the beneficiaries who attended the launch, said that some of the water, sanitation and hygiene challenges they face in this area include that, people with disabilities had difficulties getting water from distant locations, and some toilets were not user-friendly to them.

World Vision Rwanda National Director, Pauline Okumu cuts ribbon to launch the Inclusive WASH project expected to reach at least 53,700 beneficiaries with clean water in Nyamasheke District, March 30, 2022 . / Courtesy photo

Uwineza is the representative of people with disabilities in Nyamasheke District.

"We are commending this inclusive sanitation and hygiene project. Thanks to it, clean water is being brought closer to people with disabilities which will ease access to it,” he said, calling for employment of people with disabilities in the project so that they get income from the job opportunities it will create.   

This project is also expected to lead to increased access to safe and clean drinking water for communities, increased access to basic sanitation facilities, such as handwashing facilities and toilets, access to menstrual hygiene facilities in schools and the adoption of positive hygiene practices in schools and communities.

During the event, the Mayor of Nyamasheke District, Appolonie Mukamasabo said, "We hope that the project will help the District to reach universal access to clean water by 2024 in line with the Government of Rwanda’s target to have every resident get clean water within a maximum of 500 metre-distance [in rural areas]”.

She indicated that clean water ensures sanitation and hygiene in the communities.

According to World Vision Rwanda National Director, Pauline Okumu, this project is going to cover at least nine sectors within the district and it is addressing the issue of limited access to clean water so that the population gets it at close range without straining to look for it.

This project, she said, aims to support WASH interventions in schools, communities and health facilities.

World Vision Rwanda National Director, Pauline Okumu said the project uniqueness is that it will be very inclusive by also catering for water, sanitation and hygiene needs of people with disabilities, March 30, 2022

"The purpose is to improve health, nutrition, hygiene of the communities particularly the most vulnerable children including the disabled,” she said.   

Lack of access to water, Okumu indicated, was negatively affecting some children’s schooling as they were spending a lot of time collecting water before they go to school.

She said that people with disabilities are going to be involved in the planning and decision-making of the project so that they are part and parcel of it.

"And one unique thing about this project [is that] it’s also going to be very inclusive in terms of reaching out to the most vulnerable but also to the people with disabilities,” she said.

Mrs. Okumu further said, water, sanitation and hygiene has been a key component in curbing Covid-19 infections, which has driven the need for scaling up water access in health facilities. She appreciated The Phillips Foundation, from Australia for their generous funding that will have a huge impact, and contribute to improved health and educational outcomes of children and communities.

Participants during the launch of the Inclusive WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) project expected to reach at least 53,700 beneficiaries in Nyamasheke District, March 30, 2022 (Courtesy).

World Vision said it is committed to partnering with local authorities and community members in order to attain socio-economic development through the promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).