At HOREMI, not only is water flowing again from the newly repaired well, but now electricity too — thanks to an own solar system and your donations!
Our visit in February shows once again what the HOREMI team can achieve in a very short space of time when it really matters. Among other things, we are there live when the new, prematurely weakening well is upgraded and the HOREMI Junior School finally receives its long-awaited power supply. And all this in just six days!
Unfortunately, the well, which was only drilled last fall, turned out not to be deep and solid enough. As a result, less and less water is coming in before the pump finally gives up the ghost. But a reliable water supply is vital! Although there is still the community borehole about 200 meters away, this one is already overloaded. So there is no question that a quick solution to the problem is necessary — and it is possible thanks to the donation pot from the Friends of HOREMI.
Four workers arrive the very next morning. First they remove the old concrete surround including the pump, then build a wooden scaffold with a winch over the well shaft and finally lower a brave colleague into the depths. Then it’s time to shovel: bucket after bucket full of muddy earth is pulled up until the hole is deepened from 17 to a good 20 meters.
The hard-working well builders also repaired the crumbling shaft wall, re-concreted the base and replaced the broken pump. They did all this within four days, equipped only with shovels and buckets, but with all the more strength and courage. Especially the colleague digging at the bottom of the narrow well shaft urgently needed this … But finally it’s done and it’s time to get the water flowing again!
More light in the dark with solar energy
The “new solar system” mission comes to a happy end even more quickly. There is more than enough sun here at the equator, so Kenneth purchased two simple solar panels last year. But these provide just enough “juice” for a few light bulbs — not enough for the school’s small printer. Thanks to the donations from the “Give the gift of light” Christmas campaign, we were able to remedy the situation and give the green light for the purchase of a stronger solar solution.
The original plan: to order a high-performance PV system in China together with the NGO “Give a Goat”, which is also active in Uganda, and thus share the lavish transportation costs. However, the idea ultimately vanished into thin air due to the built-in hurdles of customs, logistics and bureaucracy. So Kenneth, Naume and we decide to look around local suppliers for a smaller, but sufficient PV solution for the time being.
No sooner said than done: within an afternoon, Kenneth has obtained two comparative offers and placed the order. The implementation takes place the very next day: The solar company starts early in the morning — and just in time before nightfall, three new solar panels with an output of 420 watts each are installed on the school roof, the classrooms are wired and the batteries, sockets and switches are ready for operation. All this was done quickly, professionally and — well, we’d better not say anything about occupational safety. Above all, climbing up the steep school roof and attaching the panels, which weigh around 20 kilos, without any safety devices is enough to make you break out in a sweat just watching.
But everything goes smoothly. And so, at the end of this eventful week, not only is the water flowing from the pump again, but there is also enough electricity to supply the school with sufficient power. The lights are now shining brightly inside and out — and the donated laptops and mobile phones, which we were able to present to HOREMI on site, can now be charged and operated without any problems. Many thanks for the generous donations of money and devices! Your help is working!!!
