Clean Water Congo, Democratic Republic of the Project #73263

Clean Water Access in Kingwangala, DR Congo

by Friends of Humanity

Project Report | Jul 13, 2026
Kingwangala Water Project is Nearing Completion

By Tenzin Khando Kayta | Project Assistant

Thanks to the donors' generous support, the Clean Water project in Kingwangala, Kwango Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has reached an important milestone. Construction has progressed steadily, and we are now entering the final phase of a project that will transform daily life for more than 6,000 villagers.

For generations, families in Kingwangala have depended on unsafe rivers and unprotected water sources. During the rainy season, these water sources are often contaminated by runoff, exposing communities to waterborne diseases. Women and children, especially girls, spend hours each day walking long distances to collect water instead of attending school, working, or caring for their families.

Today, that reality is beginning to change.

What Has Been Accomplished

Following the completion of Phase 1 in October 2025 and the start of Phase 2 in early 2026, construction has continued to move forward according to plan.

As shared in our previous report, since the start of this project, Friends of Humanity has transferred a total of USD 19,495 to our local partner, Cercle des Jeunes Leaders pour la Paix (CJLP), to purchase essential equipment for Phase 1,2, and 3, including solar panels, a solar-powered pump, water transport pipes, electrical cabling, and other construction materials required for the infrastructure.

Since then, these materials have been put to use as construction has advanced significantly. The main spring catchment reservoir has been completed, a 1.2-kilometer trench has been excavated to accommodate the underground pipeline connecting the spring to the village, reinforced concrete support pillars for the elevated 5,000-liter water tank have been constructed, and work is underway on the public water point where four taps will provide safe drinking water to the community.

Most recently, in July 2026, construction entered its final civil engineering phase. Sand was delivered for the remaining concrete works, the support pillars were raised to their final height, and construction of the wall that will support the four public taps continued. Once the elevated water tank is installed and the pipeline is connected, the system will be ready to bring clean water directly into the village.

The Final Steps Ahead

The project is now approaching completion. The remaining work includes:

Installing the elevated village water tank.
Connecting the pipeline network.
Completing the electrical installation to power the pumping system.
Installing the public water distribution points.

An additional USD 9,608 is still needed to complete the installation. These remaining funds will be used to purchase the three-phase electrical cables required to power the solar pump over the 1.2-kilometer distance between the spring and the village.

Once operational, families will no longer need to make dangerous daily journeys to the river. Instead, clean water will be available directly within the village through a reliable distribution system.

Challenges Along the Way

While construction has advanced well, reaching Kingwangala remains one of the project's greatest challenges. Located approximately 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa, the village is extremely difficult to access due to poor road infrastructure.

Transporting construction materials and equipment to the site often takes several days. These logistical constraints also make it difficult for technicians, engineers, and members of our local partner, Cercle des Jeunes Leaders pour la Paix (CJLP), to travel to and from the project site to supervise construction, coordinate activities, and carry out technical work.

Despite these obstacles, our local team, together with the villagers, has continued moving the project forward with remarkable dedication, ensuring that construction remains on track toward completion.

Looking Ahead

Access to clean water means much more than drinking safely. It means healthier children, fewer waterborne illnesses, improved hygiene, greater school attendance for girls, and more time for women to pursue education, work, and family life instead of spending hours fetching water every day.

As this project nears completion, we are already hearing from neighboring villages facing the same challenges and hoping for similar opportunities in the future. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help deliver clean and safe water for generations to come. Very soon, we will need a reliable vehicle to continue implementing the project in the rural areas.

We once again count on your continued generosity. On behalf of our local partner (CJLP), the community of Kingwangala, and the thousands of families whose lives will soon be transformed, thank you for making this possible.

24 HP engine and 24 kVA generator for water pump

Sand for tank support structure

Wall for four water taps

Trench for water pipes from the spring to village

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Mar 18, 2026
Progress on the Kingwangala Safe Water Project

By Tenzin Khando Kayta | Project Assistant

Access to safe drinking water remains a major challenge in rural communities in Kingwangala, located in Kwango Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many families still rely on unsafe water sources, and women and children have to walk long distances every day to collect water from unprotected springs. This situation exposes the population to waterborne diseases and contributes to poor health and nutrition outcomes.

To address this urgent situation, Friends of Humanity (FOH) launched the Kingwangala Safe Water Project, an initiative designed to bring safe drinking water directly into the village. The objective is to capture water from the natural spring, pump it through a solar-powered system, and transport it into the village through a pipeline network, so that more than 6,000 villagers can access safe drinking water close to their homes without having to walk long distances every day.

Before the project began, women and children collected water directly from a natural spring flowing between rocks, which was completely unprotected and unsafe for consumption. Improving access to safe water is therefore essential not only for public health but also for reducing the daily burden placed on families in the community.

Project Implementation and Local Partnership

The water project was initiated in early July 2025 and is a project developed and supported by Friends of Humanity.

To implement the project locally, FOH works in partnership with Cercle des Jeunes Leaders pour la Paix (CJLP). CJLP is a community-led nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by young men and women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support vulnerable rural families in Kwango Province. Its mission is to improve living conditions, reduce malnutrition, expand access to clean water, and strengthen peace in isolated communities.

CJLP works directly in Kingwangala and acts as FOH’s local partner, leading all on-site activities, coordinating procurement of materials, supervising construction work, and ensuring the proper implementation of the project within the community.

Phase 1: Protection of the Natural Spring (Completed)

In July 2025, Friends of Humanity partnered with CJLP to launch the first phase of the project. Thanks to $8,600 USD provided by FOH, Phase 1 was successfully completed in October 2025.

During this first stage, CJLP:

Secured the natural spring used by the community
Built a reinforced catchment reservoir
Protected the only available water source from contamination

For the first time ever, the villagers supported by this project now have access to clean water from a protected source.

Phase 2: Bringing Water Into the Village (Current Phase)

The second phase of the project aims to bring this protected water directly into the village, transforming daily life for the community.

Phase 2 requires $23,120 USD to install a complete water distribution system including:

A solar-powered pump
A 5,000-liter elevated water tank
A 1.2 km pipeline connecting the spring to the village

Once completed, this system will distribute safe water through several strategic water points inside the village, benefiting more than 6,000 villagers.

Financing and Recent Progress

Since the beginning of 2026, Friends of Humanity has so far transferred $7,560 USD to CJLP, partially funded by contributions received from our generous donors, to support the continuation of Phase 2.

These funds have been used to purchase essential materials and equipment required for the water system, including:

Solar panels for the pumping system
Water transport pipes connecting the spring to the reservoir
Electrical cabling
A solar-powered water pump
Additional construction materials required for the infrastructure

In January 2026, an important milestone was reached with the start of construction of the main concrete spring catchment reservoir. This structure will collect and store water directly from the Kingwangala spring and is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2026.

On the ground in Kingwangala, Mr. Jean Claude Saki, Director of CJLP, oversees this next phase of the project, supervising all construction and technical activities to ensure the system is properly implemented.

The next phases, including the construction of the support structure for the 5,000-liter elevated tank and installation of the tank itself, are planned to be completed by the end of May 2026.

An additional $15,560 USD is still needed to fund these upcoming phases and ensure the project reaches completion.

For transparency, a detailed budget listing all required materials, tools, and associated costs is attached for reference.

Expected Impact

Once Phase 2 is completed, the project will significantly improve living conditions in Kingwangala by:

Providing safe drinking water access to more than 6,000 villagers
Eliminating the need for women and children to walk long distances to fetch water
Reducing the risk of waterborne diseases
Improving hygiene and sanitation conditions
Supporting better health, education, and agricultural activities

This is a simple intervention with a life-changing impact for the entire community.

Looking Ahead

Work on the water infrastructure is progressing steadily, and the next steps will focus on installing the solar pumping system and completing the pipeline that will bring water directly into the village.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our donors and partners. Your support is making this life-changing project possible.

While significant progress has been made, the project is not yet complete. Every contribution helps us complete the water distribution system and ensure that every family in Kingwangala has access to safe, reliable drinking water. Together, we can make this vision a reality.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT !

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Attachments:

itemized budget (PDF)

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