When our borehole broke

Yesterday, we wrote about the blog training given to a group of school pupils in Katine. Here, three of the young people write how access to water has improved in the sub-county

When our borehole broke – by Grace Iloka

Katine pupil Grace Iloka
Grace Iloka. Photograph: Joseph Malinga guardian.co.uk

When our borehole in Katine trading centre broke down people suffered a lot looking for safe drinking water.

Most them then resorted to drinking dirty water. The dirty water could cause diseases like diarrhoea, making most of them sick.

And if you got sick, getting money for treatment was also a problem. One man called Eilu, from Obiol village, however, came to our rescue and repaired the borehole.

But before that our parents could get it from Ajobi village, 2km from Katine.

Water in Katine - by Daniel Idiamat

Katine pupil  Daniel Idiamat
Daniel Idiamat. Photograph: Joseph Malinga guardian.co.uk

I'm 11-years-old and a primary five pupil at Katine primary school. And I live in Olwelai village.

Before Amref came to Katine sub-county, people were drinking water from the wells. The water was stagnant not even safe for humans to drink.

It was dirty and caused us diseases like typhoid, bilharzia, diphtheria and ring worms. Some people died because of drinking dirty water.

But now the water we drink is clean and safe since Amref came in to help and drilled for us a borehole. We have one borehole in Olwelai that serves very many people.

This one borehole is not enough for us because all residents fetch water from the same place, which makes us suffer, lining up and waiting for hours before someone gets water.

We are now asking Amref to give us another borehole. We are now safe from diseases, we thank Amref.

Water before Amref - by Rose Acaloi

Katine pupil  Rose Acaloi
Rose Acaloi. Photograph: Joseph Malinga guardian.co.uk

I'm Rose Acaloi, aged 13-years. I'm a primary five pupil at Katine primary school.

Before Amref came to Katine sub-county, we used to drink very dirty water from the swamp.

It was from an open place, where animals like pigs, and cows used to drink from. This water was very, very dirty which caused so many diseases, such as diarrhoea, dysentery, and other water born diseases. These diseases killed so many people - young and old.

But this has now changed. The diseases have reduced now with Amref coming to help. So we thank Amref for what they have done for our community.