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:
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:
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:
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:
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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