Published in October 2024

A key element of many sand dam projects is the provision of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) training. This enables communities to use their sand dam water to practice better sanitation and improve their health, as we see in the case of this story from the Zhokwe community in Zimbabwe. 

The introduction of a sand dam project to the Zhokwe village has brought real change to the life of 34-year-old community member Simangaliphi Ndlovu, who shared her experience in a discussion with our local partners in Zimbabwe, The Dabane Trust.

The Zhokwe community had experienced severe issues with water scarcity before Dabane supported them to construct a sand dam in a nearby river channel, providing them with a reliable, year-round supply of clean water. This has had profoundly positive effects on the water supply available to the local community, which means that local people now have more water available for drinking and farming.

In addition to this, a further crucial benefit of water from a sand dam is to support health and hygiene. Water scarcity often forces dryland communities to use less water for washing and bathing, but with more water available to meet people’s varied needs, there is no longer the need to save water in this way. As a result, people’s health and hygiene improve notably, as does their sense of dignity and pride.

To help maximise the impact of sand dam projects on local people’s health, Dabane Trust offers participatory training in Health and Hygiene Education training (otherwise known as WASH training). It is here that Simangaliphi learned about the importance of hygiene practices such as regular hand washing and establishing adequate sanitation in the home.

Simangaliphi decided to put her education into action by constructing a toilet for her homestead using locally available resources, something which WASH training sessions encourage where possible. She explains this decision in her own words.

"I understood that having a toilet not only promotes better health and hygiene for my family but that it also contributes to the overall well-being of my community."
 
Simangaliphi Ndlovu, member of Zhokwe community, Zimbabwe.

Finding a suitable place to use the toilet used to be a daily struggle for Simangaliphi. She and her family used to have to walk a considerable distance to access a toilet at her former family home since relocating to build her own home two years prior. The alternative was to resort to using the bush as a toilet, which was unsanitary and risked contaminating nearby water sources, contributing to the spread of waterborne disease.

Now that she has constructed a toilet in her own home, with the help of her husband and son, Simangaliphi hopes that other people without toilets in her area will be inspired to follow suit. She plans to share her experience and knowledge with others in the village, encouraging them to construct toilets of their own.

In addition to building the toilet, Simangaliphi has also implemented other hygiene practices in her homestead. She now ensures that her family washes their hands regularly, especially before meals and after using the toilet. She has also taught her son about the importance of cleanliness and has made it a habit for him to wash his hands properly.

Simangaliphi’s efforts will not only improve the health and well-being of her family, but also contribute to the overall development of her community. With access to improved sanitation facilities, the risk of waterborne diseases in her village will be reduced. Her story is an example of how education and empowerment can bring about positive change. Through the training provided by Dabane, she has gained the knowledge and skills necessary to improve her family's quality of life.

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