At least 380 residents in Rubavu district have been provided with rainwater tanks for access to clean water and sanitation as a way of improving their livelihoods.
Rubavu is one of the districts located in volcanic regions where access to clean and safe water remains a big challenge.
The event for handing over of water and sanitation facilities was held in the Cyanzarwe sector, Kanembwe village over its geographical status.
The facilities donned include 70 rainwater tanks, 70 water filters and 50 micro flush toilets expected to help 380 people from Kanembwe and Bihungwe Villages.
The ceremony was presided, on Thursday 17, by the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, HE Isao Fukushima, who hailed Hand in Hand in Development; a local non-profit organization constructed the tanks, for their great contribution towards changing the livelihoods of community from volcanic areas.
“I am proud to say that Hand in Hand for Development has contributed to this global achievement through the implementation of the project in the two villages under Japan’s Grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security project called GGP,” he said.
According to Legal Representative of HIHD, Isaac Hatangimana Mugabe, rain water harvesting is one the long lasting solution for water shortage to the community living from Virunga Mountains Region.
Despite tanks which help in rain water harvesting, improved toilets were also provided to these families as Kigali Up witnessed.
“Digging a deep hole for the toilet in this area remains a challenge for many households. We have provided them with improved facilities which are easy towards cleanness, and use less water. It’s a new technology and affordable,” he added.
Water tanks and toilets given to the local residents in Cyanzarwe are the facilities which Vice Mayor of Rubavu, in charge of Economic Development and Acting Mayor, Deogratias Nzabonimpa, greatly welcomed.
For him, the facilities are meant to address the scarcity of water in Virunga Mountains since almost the entire district still struggles to access clean water.
“We are not on the right path in terms of clean water and sanitation here. Cleanness remains a challenge. This is why rain water still has a lot of significance to many households to improve hygiene,” he stated.
Hand in Hand for Development, at the same ceremony, signed another new grant for ‘The project for Improvement of Sanitation Conditions in Flood Affected Areas in Rubavu District’ under the government of Japan.
Around 120 families in Kanama, Rugerero and Nyundo villages whose toilets were destroyed during the recent heavy floods will be restored, costing $72,722.
