June was a very special month for the Akayange community, as well as for Akayange Primary School, both situated just outside of Akagera National Park where Wilderness Safaris Magashi is located. Thanks to generous donations from guests of both Magashi and Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge at Volcanoes National Park, Children in the Wilderness (CITW) has been able to support the community and the school with a solar borehole, water pump and the necessary connections and taps to provide water to the school and to the community.
The 250 households in Akayange village, and the 395 students and eight teachers at the primary school, have had no access to water prior to this project. The closest water collection point was roughly 5 – 6 km from their homes. A very long walk, especially the return trip, while carrying the containers of water! Now the water can be collected by the households at the school grounds as it comes straight to the school taps for use by the students and teachers.
So important to ensure that people stay hydrated and to ensure hygienic practices!
The first attempts to find water started in December 2020. It was not easy to find water and only after drilling in four different locations was a beautiful water source found, that was sufficient for the village and the school.
Our generous guests donated USD21 260.50 for this project, which has changed the daily lives of so many adults and children.
A wish – a dream – of many of the people living in the community has finally come true: easily accessible, clean, and fresh drinking water!
The process was managed by the Akayange Community Committee, specifically set up by Wilderness Safaris and CITW for this kind of project.
Now that they have water, we will all shortly be brainstorming the next project to improve conditions at the school and the community.
