In May, Fort Lewis College’s Village Aid Project (VAP) partnered with community members in Siyowi and Nachili to build two water systems and two bridges. Now, five months after project completion, the responsibility to ensure sustainability and maintain the system has shifted to the community. Walking through these villages, the sense of ownership and pride in these transformative developments is clear.
A prime example is the Nachili Bridge. Due to time constraints, VAP couldn’t complete the stairs leading to the bridge. While the bridge was functional, getting onto it required a hop and some maneuvering—especially challenging for small children and older adults. Today, the bridge has fully finished stairs on both sides. The Nachili community came together, contributing money for materials, and took on the work themselves to ensure the bridge was accessible to all. Their commitment to completing the bridge exemplifies how the people of Nachili are taking development into their own hands. They saw an opportunity to create greater equity in bridge access and took action to make it a reality.
In both Siyowi and Nachili, other signs of community investment in the new water system are also evident. Many households have built protective fences around their tap stands using wooden posts and thorny acacia branches. These barriers help prevent wandering livestock from damaging the infrastructure—a practical step in safeguarding the water system’s longevity. Others have gone a step further, digging small channels in the dirt to redirect water runoff toward gardens, trees, and flowers. This not only reduces the risk of water pooling and wearing down the concrete but also puts the water to good use, supporting gardens, trees, and decorative flowers. 
Personal touches to the water infrastructure have also become common. During the initial construction, families often wrote their names and the construction date into the concrete. Now, some have taken things further by painting and decorating their taps, turning these taps into proud, personalized features of their homes. This individualization reflects the pride community members feel in having access to clean water for their households.
Though these may seem like small changes, they reveal deep insights into community values. The people of Siyowi and Nachili view these bridges and water systems as essential resources worth protecting and take responsibility for maintaining them. This empowered attitude highlights the long-term impact of VAP’s work. By providing tools and support, VAP and community partners like Shanta and Rotary Club have enabled these communities to steer their own development and protect the futures they envision.
Written by: Stella Potemkin
