Rwanda’s First Humanitarian Water Project
Elder Brent and Sister Cherie Andrus
 Mayor cutting ribbon at Turnover Ceremony and CelebrationRwanda is the land of a thousand hills. They serve as terraced farmlands covered by banana trees, beans, maize and potatoes cascading from the mountain tops to the valleys below. Rwanda’s scenic beauty is breathtaking and enjoys a year round tropical climate. Although one of the smallest countries in Africa geographically, Rwanda is the most densely populated.
“Water is Life”, a common phrase across Africa, is Rwanda’s slogan. Despite heavy rainfall during two rainy seasons, villagers still suffer a lack of quality drinking water. Many are forced to access their water from unclean sources which leads to much illness. The volcanic Virunga Mountains in the north is home to the world famous Mountain Gorillas. The area is also blessed with prolific underground springs, but the water becomes contaminated by animals, and clothes washing and bathing by the villagers.
In March, 2010 Elder and Sister Andrus arrived in Rwanda as the country’s first humanitarian missionaries. For the country’s first water project, they concluded that the natural springs in the north offered the greatest potential for delivering clean water to the most people. Church humanitarian water projects are frequently accompanied by sanitation work as well, and inspections of village schools revealed a severe shortage of latrines. Many remote schools had enrollments of 1500-2000 students, but very few latrines.
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By Sister Julie Badger Jensen
 Child pumps water at Kenya project. Photo by Elder P. David JensenThe time had come to celebrate! February 5, 2011. The Kwale Water and Sanitation Project was “Handed Over” to a grateful community. As visitors arrived for the joyous occasion, school children sitting under a huge, sheltering mango tree leaned forward, turning their heads, to get their first glimpse of representatives of government, community, and humanitarian affairs. Dressed in uniform, the children made a memorable picture of school in rural Kenya, Africa. The girls wore simple skirts the color of the rust soil with black and white checked tops. Parents sat at outdoor desks nearby. Excitement was in the air.
Soon a drill team of nine girls marched in following the commands of two young men. Their moves were precise and impressive as they concluded by placing an arm on the shoulder of the girl in front of each. A Pledge of Allegiance followed. Next, twenty four young girls enthusiastically sang and danced. As they waved goodbyes, the “mama’s” representing parents, delighted the crowd with an original song and dance especially created for the joyous occasion. Festively dressed in stunning patterns and vibrant colors of the rainbow, they sang “Thank you for good work…happy for the project which has been done” accompanied by a blow horn and seed shaker. Shrill sounds of happiness were heard from the tongues of grateful women.
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