“It is great to see a smile on many faces because of Oxfam’s humanitarian work.” Said Betty Malaki, Oxfam in Tanzania Head of Programmes during a visit to Nduta camp. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
Moved, inspired, cheers to saving lives
April 2018.
Heavy rains are pouring down. Most of the roads in Kasulu and Kibondo districts in the Kigoma region of north western Tanzania are wet and slippery. The Country Management Team (CMT) of Oxfam in Tanzania took on a three days monitoring visit to Oxfam’s work in the Burundian refugee response and the host communities. We are delighted and excited.
Our work in host communities
We met very inspirational members of the Community Owned Water Committees at Makere village in Kasulu where Oxfam has built water infrastructures near the Nyarugusu refugee camp to provide clean and safe water to Tanzanian citizens living in the host communities. I was pleased to see clean and safe water in the schools, and host communities powered by solar energy.
Aishi Kitumbo, a chairperson of the Community Owned Water Committee told us; “We are committed to work with local government leaders to maintain the Oxfam installed water infrastructures.” - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
Further north, at the Rusohoko village, we met few other members. At this meeting, one story moved me. Adlophina Daniel, a mother of two narrates her ordeal, she recalls; “We would walk long distances to fetch water and often woke up at 2am to catch the queues.” And sometimes after all that trouble, she may not get water. “Water availability was never guaranteed.” She adds.
Adlophina Daniel told us how she would walk long distances and often woke up at 2am to fetch water. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
With water taps installed nearby, women like Adlophina and others in Rusohoko village, no longer have to walk long distances to get water. Thanks to our donors like Global Affairs Canada for supporting these projects.
The Rusohoko solar powered deep well yields 3,000 litres of water per hour. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
A water rehabilitation project at the Kumuhasha village is offering water to over 5,000 families. We learned during the trip that one of the tanks refurbished by Oxfam was initially launched by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president. It was later refurbished during the Ali Hassan Mwinyi’s administration, the second president of Tanzania in 1992. It stopped working causing massive water shortages to the residents for over a decade. Oxfam with funding from UK’s Department for International Development refurbished the tank and installed 32 water points, providing clean and safe water to the families in the village.
A rehabilitated water storage tank at the Kumuhasha village now serves water to over 5,000 Tanzanians living in the host village near the Nduta refugee camp. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam A rehabilitated water storage tank at the Kumuhasha village now serves water to over 5,000 Tanzanians living in the host village near the Nduta refugee camp. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
“Families are now fetching water within 400 meters, which is in line with Tanzania’s water policy.” – Said Zablon Miyego, a chairperson of the Community Owned Water Committee. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
A visit to the Nduta refugee camp
On the final leg of our trip we visited the Nduta refugee camp. Oxfam is the lead agency in the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion services (WASH) in the camp and serving over 2.7 million litres of clean and safe water per day to over 117,000 refugees.
As part of the livelihoods project, Oxfam is working with a local partner KIYADO to train refugees on best agricultural practices and support them with seeds, and tools to help them produce food from farm to plate.
Ndimugwanko Fides proudly told the CMT that since she was given the seeds and training by Oxfam’s partner KIYADO she has harvested vegetables twice and fed her family of six with nutritious food. "We now have plenty of vegetable options to choose from." - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
Ndimugwanko Fides proudly told the CMT that since she was given the seeds and training by Oxfam’s partner KIYADO she has harvested vegetables twice and fed her family of six with nutritious food. "We now have plenty of vegetable options to choose from." - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
“It is great to see a smile on many faces because of Oxfam’s humanitarian work.” Said Betty Malaki, Oxfam in Tanzania Head of Programmes during a visit to Nduta camp. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
Motorbike Youth Project
John Marie Nzisabila and his group have been provided with mechanic tools and training on business skills to generate income and sustain their families. "I fix Motorbikes here at the camp. I also train people to become mechanics." John told us.
John Marie Nzisabila has been trained on business skills to generate more income. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
Oxfam and her partners will continue to equip these communities with knowledge and necessary resources to ensure ownership and sustainability.
During the three days visit, we learned that it is with partnerships such as the one Oxfam has built with Kibondo district leadership, local partners and the communities, that we can offer more lasting and sustainable impact.
“Water and sanitation projects supported by Oxfam in the host communities have solved the problem we had for years in our district.” – Said Gabriel Chitupila, for Kibondo District Executive Director. - Photo: Bill Marwa/Oxfam
This has all been monumental. -- Looking forward to the next one. The CMT is fully motivated, inspired and supercharged.
Cheers to saving lives!
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