Japanese students restore Manafwa wells

By Simon Masaba

A team of twelve visiting students from Toyo University in Japan have embarked on renovating water springs in Manafwa district.

The students, who are on a twelve-day tour of the district, are renovating water points which were constructed by the first batch of students from the same university about ten years ago.

The student’s mission is to renovate by cleaning the water springs and to encourage the local residents to plant trees to avoid mud slides.

Toyo University working in partnership with Generation Hope and Wagagai Safaris, will renovate six spring wells in Mutsasa, Bugobelo sub-county in Manafwa district.

The team leader, Prof Elli Sugita, from the faculty of Regional Development Studies at Toyo University, told New Vision that the students were fulfilling their partnership with the community.

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“We are here to monitor and maintain the wells we constructed, to ensure that the communities continue to have access to clean water,” Sugita said.

A group of residents on Saturday joined the students in cleaning the water sources which had deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance. 

Peter Matanda, a local resident said, “We are challenged by the exercise. How can the Japanese construct for us a water spring and after years come to clean it, yet we are the beneficiaries?”

Prof Sugita said the students would visit the district every year to ensure that residents appreciate the concept of keeping the wells clean.