Michelle Byrne, University of Notre Dame
“Nnindye's Struggle for Safe Water: Causes, Consequences, and Proposed Solutions”
Bio: Michelle is a Science-Business major with a minor in International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She traveled to Uganda this past summer to research water systems in the village of Nindye, where Notre Dame is focusing its resources through the Ford Family Program. She is very interested in global health, especially as it relates to public policy and sustainability. At Notre Dame she is involved with Student Government, GreeND, and the Center for Social Concerns.
Abstract: Only 68% of Ugandans have access to clean water. This lack of clean water has profound effect on the health and livelihood of communities. Though some Ugandans do not have access to water sources, the problems run deeper than this. Infrastructure put in place by NGO's and charities is often abandoned, and communities are left without funding or technical knowledge to maintain them. Many are also misinformed about the need for sanitation before drinking, as well as the steps to take to ensure that water is safe.
In the rural village of Nindye, Uganda, I studied water issues from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. First, I located and analyzed the current infrastructure that exists for retrieving water, and tested the water quality within that infrastructure. Next, I interviewed villagers about what water is used for in the community and how (or if) it is sanitized before use. Finally, I met with community leaders to examine the social implications of water issues, which included indigenous religious beliefs, leadership, village organization, and education.
My research presentation will identify what I have found to be the primary underlying causes of the inadequate water situation that currently exists in Nindye. It will address the issues of abandoned infrastructure and misinformation, as well as point to possible solutions to these problems, which I hope to study further through my academic work this year.
