With love and support from James and Nancy Dahlgren, 2,438 people now have comprehensive Water+ solutions!
- 610 people now have water access in Aluru Community
- 835 girls now have decent toilets at Abarler Primary School
- 993 people now have water access in Agaloipiny Community
These three communities no longer need to worry about drinking unsafe water or searching for a toilet, and can instead dream of a better future!
610 people now have safe water in Aluru Community
The Challenge
Aluru Community, located in Kalaki District, is home to 610 people. Their well was drilled in 2019 with 8 pipes, but upon assessment by our team it was discovered that the well was functioning with only 5, making pumping difficult. In addition to being difficult to pump, the water that came out was often brown because the pipes had begun to rust.
When the well would break, community members had two options—walk 1 kilometer to a well that was difficult to pump or collect water from a well that that they knew was unsafe to drink.
“When I drank dirty water, I had stomach pain. Others face various illnesses because of the harmful substances in the water. When our borehole breaks, we have no choice but to consume the dirty water.” – Abiji Julius, Community Member
Listening to Community Needs
At Surge, community ownership is at the heart of everything we do. We partner closely with local organizations to co-create and implement solutions that reflect each community’s needs, strengths and aspirations. By investing in local leadership, we ensure that every project is not just delivered to the community, but truly owned by the community—creating lasting impact for generations.
Working together with the community, we were able to completely fix the well! Today, Aluru Community well brings clean, safe water to the community. With reliable access to water, families now benefit from improved hygiene and sanitation—paving the way for improved health, education, and opportunity.
835 girls now have decent toilets at Abarler Primary School
The Challenge
Abarler Primary School has a total enrolment of 1,620 students – 835 girls and 785 boys. One of the biggest challenges the school faced was providing safe, dignified toilets to its students.
Upon assessment, we discovered that Abarler Primary School had 4 toilet stalls for the girls, but none of these were functioning. Instead, the girls used the teachers toilet. This toilet block was missing doors to the stalls and had an incomplete pathway. With only 2 stalls for 835 girls, the toilet to student ratio was 1:417.5, much higher than the government recommendation of 1:40.
With so many students relying on the toilets, long lines were common. Younger students began to practice open defecation in and around the school yard. The spread of illnesses, such as diarrhea and dysentery, became common among students. Besides affecting the students academic performance, it was difficult for their families to pay for treatment.
During Construction
We hire local labor and collaborate with skilled community members on every project—strengthening both capacity and the economy. By investing in hands-on training and knowledge sharing, we ensure the expertise to maintain and repair the toilets stays within the community.
Thriving Communities
Abarler Primary School now has a functioning toilet block for the girls. With reliable access to safe toilet facilities, students now benefit from improved hygiene and sanitation—and can focus on their studies instead of searching for a safe toilet.
“I used to fear the school toilet because of its poor hygiene. Today I can tell my friends outside of school that our school has the best toilet ever constructed.” – Akullu Jennifer, Primary 7 student
993 people now have water access in the Agaloipiny Community
The Challenge
Agaloipiny Community, home to 993 people, had no safe water source. Many households in the community relied on contaminated water from hand-dug wells, which often disappear during the dry season. Additionally, most of this water is unsafe for human consumption.
For the residents of Agaloipiny Community, the nearest well was 1.5 kilometers away—but even this water wasn’t recommended for human consumption.
From Plans to Action
After meeting with the community, it was determined that they needed a well drill to bring safe water closer to their homes. By drilling a new well in this community, they now have a well with clean, safe water!
“I am happy that we have clean and safe water nearby. I believe most people’s health will improve since before I felt back pain from carrying heavy jerricans long distances.” – Angwech Lucy, 42 years old
Beyond Water to Thriving Communities
We’re so grateful for the 2,438 people that now have comprehensive Water+ solutions! These solutions bring more than just water and decent toilets. They bring improved education, health, well-being, and a chance at a better future!
If you are interested in supporting Surge for Water, please contact us.
