Partnership brings safe water and health to Kapara Village

 “Most times, we would leave at 6 am and return to the village around lunchtime or after lunch,” says Yanauo. 

She explains that their older generation used the traditional way of collecting and storing water, this was done through carefully prepared bamboo culms, where the nodes and internodes are removed to make the culm a tool for collecting, storing, and transporting water. (Culm – bamboo stem, the smaller culms can be referred to as – stalks). 

Yanauo adds that the practice evolved into using plastic containers to collect, transport, and store drinking water as they still lacked a safe water source nearby or in the village. More so, the water source was a dug-out well, posing health risks for the children in the community. 

“Yes, children got sick from drinking this water. We also did not have proper toilets and we would use the bush or the river to relieve ourselves,” she says. 

When World Vision intervened through the Water for Women Markham Wash project, the community was triggered through community-led total sanitation intervention to change their mindset, and each household was empowered by project staff to build safe toilets and practice handwashing at key times with soap. 

“When we started building and using safe toilets, our children stopped getting sick, and we have also taught them how to use toilets and the proper ways of using them, so now our children are doing that,” Yanauo adds. 

Recently, the community received a water tank and other vital materials needed to construct a Gravity Fed Water Supply (GFS) system. This system was constructed by local artisans and members of the community. 

The village is now equipped with 6 water taps, positioned at communal locations near agreed households to provide access to clean, safe water for drinking, and cooking, and sometimes for the children to bathe before going to school. 

“Our children are now healthy because we have a good water supply and they use it to bathe. I see that compared to the past, our lives are now much better than it was before.

“The women are thankful to World Vision for bringing us knowledge on how to build toilets, the proper ways of using them, and steps of handwashing; also, the water supply system in our community,” she says. 

Mitiam, another community member of Kapara, affirms the positive changes that came with the project. 

“When the community started building toilets, children did not fall sick anymore as was the case before the intervention. When you came with the support of a water supply, we were very happy because now our wives and mothers can rest from carrying water in containers and bamboo, and we’re very happy for this support,” he says.

Mitiam notes that they've seen changes in behaviour, especially with their children, as they can now bathe near their homes, and the women can access clean, safe water.

 “On behalf of the community and its leaders, I would like to thank the donor (Water for Women) because life has been made easier for our children and women, and for that, we’re very thankful,” adds Mitiam.

Previously, some members of the community had pit toilets, but they lacked essential components such as toilet lids to prevent flies from spreading feces to food. As a result, children often get diarrhoea and worm infestation.

 “Through this intervention, most of our children no longer need to visit the clinic, and I’ve seen that children’s health has improved—they look healthier and are happier compared to the past,” he says.

The village is separated into 6 sections, each with a water tap in an accessible location that all members can use. Some community members have connected water taps to their households. 

“Some of us have contributed our own money, and with the help of local artisans who constructed the system, we have connected the water supply to our homes with a tap. I am grateful because I have a water tap right at my house, which I share with 3 other households,” Mitiam adds, smiling.

Bringing the water tank for the GFS was no easy task. Mitiam recalls how they had to tie the tank by its four corners and carry it across a swinging bridge over a fast-flowing river that separated their village from the rest of Markham, similar to the Sayang community upstream. 

The estimated distance from the main Lae-Highlands Highway to Kapara village is approximately 15 kilometres. The village is located inland from the highway, and the distance may vary slightly depending on the exact entry point and route taken. Travel conditions, such as road quality and terrain, can also affect the time it takes to reach Kapara from the highway. 

A Gravity Fed Water System (GFS) uses the natural force of gravity to transport water from a higher elevation source, such as a spring or reservoir, to a community below. Water is collected and stored in tanks at elevated points, allowing it to flow through pipes downhill without the need for pumps.

These, efficiently deliver water to homes or communal taps, relying on the elevation difference to maintain water pressure. It is cost-effective and requires minimal maintenance, making it ideal for rural or remote areas with reliable water sources.

“We built a dam upstream, around 7 kilometres from here, and from that dam, the water is brought into the water tank that stores it and supplies the community,” says   Mitiam.

Our intervention could not have been successful without the much-needed funding support of the Water for Women(wfw) Fund and our partners, the Markham District Development Authority. 

Together, we’re reaching the most vulnerable women and children and trying to inspire change to improve health, well-being, and livelihoods.