Living Water Rwanda is one of the pilot countries that was identified to implement “Saturate”, a holistic WASH program. The name Saturate refers to a visionary goal of this pilot—to saturate the targeted geographic area with efforts towards holistic transformation so that by the time the program is concluded, every household has been reached, every church engaged, and every person has had a chance to experience the gospel.
The Saturate Pilot Program area will be implemented in the Gahengeri sector, Rwamagana District, Eastern Province in Rwanda. Gahengeri is characterized by its hilly terrain and vibrant communities that are sparsely populated. Its natural beauty is undeniable.
The topography of the Gahengeri WPA
The Regional Vice President (RVP) for Africa, Dr. Victor, visited the program area in the company of Hastings, the Country Director of Rwanda, and Jean Marie, the Program Director. They first made a courtesy call at the Mayor’s office in Rwamagana District to acknowledge his support to Living Water Rwanda.
Visit at the Mayor’s office before heading to the Saturate Pilot program area
The Mayor appreciated Living Water’s commitment to providing safe water in communities and described the sector’s dire need for water. Dr. Victor expressed the organization’s commitment to collaborate with local partners in fulfilling this need.
The second stop was at a main storage tank in Nyagasambu center, which supplies water to Gahengeri sector and is one of the key sources of water. The tank is managed by public private operators while the Water and Sanitation Corporate (WASAC) provides technical support. The water in the storage tank is not sufficient for the residents. This was evident from the long lines witnessed at various water points since water is supplied on a rational basis.
Living Water Africa RVP at Gahengeri’s key water source
Community members waiting to collect water
Many of the water sources in Gahengeri as seen above are very far from the households and are damaged, leading to significant wastage of water. To address this, water should be piped from the water sources such as the bottom of mountains and hills to locations closer to people’s homes, where water points or kiosks will be established.
Implementing the Saturate project in Gahengeri would be crucial for enhancing health in the community and improving the quality of life. However, a well-designed Engineering solution is essential to tackle the complexity of the terrain, particularly in establishing a reliable piped water system. Collaborating with professionals in the Engineering field who can work alongside our able Living Water Rwanda engineers will help accomplish the goal of reaching everyone with basic WASH services.