I’m certain that I want to help the people in Nandere solve their water problem. Before leaving, I met with three engineers from the region. I asked them to find out if it would be possible for one of the three wells in Nandere to be repaired. A different plan emerged from our meeting: as Nandere is situated on a small hill, the idea is to dig a well at the foot of this hill. The water will be supplied to the village by means of an electrical pump and almost 500 meters of piping. I ask the three engineers to give me their quotes, but after a few weeks have passed I’ve only received two.
“If you had just one wish, what would it be?” I asked the people in the village before I left. The response I had from almost everyone was “water” or “rain”. Ever since then, this wish has been my motivation. I want to work as hard as I possibly can and do everything in my power to make it a reality. In June 2015, the project starts to take shape. I launch the fundraising page on betterplace.org.
Before anything else, I make a projection of how I’m going to manage to reach my fundraising target. “I have 707 friends on my private Facebook profile. If everyone donates just €10, we’ll have surpassed our fundraising target,” I write in my blog.
“And let’s be honest – how much is €10 anyway? Three beers down at the pub? A cocktail in a bar? A small meal in a restaurant? Two packets of cigarettes? What could you go without for one day?”, I continue. I’m convinced we’re going to be able to raise the money we need by next year.
My calculations are off.
In the months of June (€1466), July (€185), and August (€373.50), we raise a total of €2024.50. The project got off to a great start in June, with some particularly generous donations coming in from my blog readers, friends and members of my family. But there comes a time when my blog’s reach has been exhausted and I must change tack. I’ve got to make the project bigger, so I join forces with a blogger friend of mind, Katrin. She’s already spoken highly of the project on numerous occasions and offered me her help. We manage to find new donors through her circle of friends and the “donations instead of gifts” campaign for an alternative to birthday presents, as well as from readers of her blog.
I start looking for an organisation to give the project the significance it deserves in the outside world. I’m also in desperate need of expert support and legal assistance. And another thing: a charitable organisation would be able to issue charitable donation receipts, which would be helpful seeing that all the donations made so far have been considered gifts to me as a private individual. With an organisation on board, I want to come up with a sustainability strategy to help us guarantee long-term support. After all, we’re helping no one if the pump needs repairing after a month or so and there’s no money in the pot to mend it.
The search proves difficult. The project is too small for Viva con Agua, and Engineers Without Borders Germany doesn’t have any capacity to spare. Technology Without Borders Germany is the first organisation to express an interest in the project. They warn me about the tedious bureaucratic challenges that lie ahead and put me in touch with an energetic and experienced project manager in the form of Hannes. I get to know him and the rest of his regional group in Leipzig, at which point I admit that I’m a bit disappointed as I’ve only managed to raise €2328.50 of our €7015 goal. The members of the association don’t understand my frustration, they just pat me on the shoulder and tell me it’s a great achievement.
But things aren’t moving quickly enough for me, I wanted to have raised the money by now.
Hannes worked in Ghana a few years back; he set up a recycling project there. Now we join forces to set ourselves some new objectives. Our first job is to look for an engineer, and we soon find one in Steffen. Hannes and Steffen already know each other from beforehand.

In and amongst all the positive reactions to the project, I must also learn to deal with the odd critical voice. The sustainability of the project is called into question, as are its practical implementation and even its justification. On top of that, my motivation is scrutinised. I’m branded a colonialist, someone who wants to make a name for himself in Africa with help from donations.
But then Father Joseph gets in touch in a Facebook message:
Hello Friends from Berlin,
I salute you all and I thank you for all the work you are doing. I am Fr. Joseph-Mary Kavuma from Nandere Parish, in Uganda. And I take this chance to thank you very heartily for accepting to be part of us by sharing in our suffering. You have done us great through the generous contributions towards our water project.
I am most grateful to you all, most especially Steven, who took charge to mobilise and sensitise you on this great need for water. Nandere is the oldest Parish in Kasana-Luweero Diocese, having been founded by the Missionaries of Africa way back in 1899. We wish to provide water to the 5 communities at the Parish Headquarters; namely the Parish Community, the Sisters and the orphanage, 2 Primary schools and the Health Center. Members from all the 5 communities share one borehole which was built 15 years ago, it keeps breaking down due to old age and excessive pressure. The situation becomes unbearable during the school going days coupled with prolonged dry spells as a result of climate change.
We really need your support to go out of this mess!
Wishing you God’s choicest blessings in all.
Fr. Joseph-Mary
I’m emboldened once again by this message. It reminds me and everyone else involved in this charity project just who this project is all about. November (€2083) and December (€3087.09) consequently turn out to be the most successful months for fundraising.
A rude awakening, right in the thick of it.
I’m forced to raise the total fundraising target from €7015 to €9215. I’d neglected to take certain costs into account in my initial calculations back in June: for example, the outward journey and medical care for the people involved in the project.
With help from my friend David, who also asks people to give a donation instead of gifts for his birthday, a radio interview, and my former colleague Ecki, we manage to finish fundraising on 10 February. I’m saved at the last minute, as my flight to Uganda is due to leave in eleven days.

My joy diminishes five days later, when I learn of the sudden death of the representative of my former volunteering organisation. He suffered a fatal car accident in the early hours of 15 February.
I’ll never forget the way he bode me farewell at the bus, wished me all the best for the future, and vanished. And how ten minutes later, he reappeared at my window of the bus, asking if he should accompany me to Kampala. He said he’d look after this 1.92-metre-tall, almost hundred kilo Mzungu.
Godfrey had studied in Austria. He had the chance to stay in Europe, but he chose Uganda. Because he loved his country and he didn’t want to leave anyone behind. Godfrey was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.
* * *
Readers Mail
Tell us what you think
Guido on 4. Dezember 2016
Nach der Hälfte des Artikels hatte ich gedanklich bereits einen Totalverriss als Kommentar formuliert: Was für ein Schwachsinn, als wenn man Westler einfliegen müsste, um einen Baum zu beschneiden oder den Busch zu mähen. Als wenn die Locals diese Arbeit nicht erledigen können. Der Volontärtourismus ist mittlerweile ein Geschäft, bei dem Unternehmen im Westen mit Menschen auf dem Selbstfindungstrip Milliarden verdienen. Den Menschen vor Ort in Afrika hilft das nicht.
Aber Du hast das selbst reflektiert: «Doch ich habe nicht wirklich den Eindruck, etwas Wertvolles bewirken zu können. Schlimmer noch. Ich habe das Gefühl, einem Menschen den Arbeitsplatz wegzunehmen.» Soweit kommen die meisten Volontäre nicht. Und danach wird der Artikel ganz großartig. Auch der Brunnenbau schadet vielerorts in Afrika mehr als er nützt. Aber das hier hört sich nach einem sinnvollen Projekt an. Großer Respekt!
Steven on 6. Dezember 2016
Hallo Guido,
ganz lieben Dank für dein sehr ehrliches Kommentar. Der Text spiegelt das ganze Projekt in chronologischem Ablauf wieder. Anfangs bin ich an die Sache natürlich ganz anders rangegangen.
Besonders nach der Rückkehr habe ich mich viel mit dem Thema der Entwicklungshilfe beschäftigt. Ja, Volunteering ist oftmals ein reines Abenteuer für den Volontär. Der Erfahrungsgewinn für die Einheimischen ist minimal oder gar nicht vorhanden. Auch das war in meinem Fall anders – weil wir es fortgesetzt haben. Father Joseph war ja im Mai bei uns in Berlin. Da konnte er viele Eindrücke und Erfahrungen mitnehmen. Es ist geplant, dass er wieder kommt. Dann macht er auch Praktika im Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbau und nimmt Wissen mit, das sicherlich nicht von mir kommt. :D
Meine damalige Volunteeringorganisation Karmalaya schätze ich dennoch sehr positiv ein. Sie planen Projekte langfristig, schaffen Arbeit und Verdienstmöglichkeiten für Einheimische und informieren rundum gut.
Beste Grüße,
Steven
Fr. Joseph-Mary Kavuma on 6. Dezember 2016
Steven is a Great Man, he has a big heart and a lot of love for other people. He gave us the chance to live and work with a ‚Mzungu‘ for the very first time and our life here in Nandere will never be the same again! May God bless you Steven, your Family and Friends for the love and care you extended to my people!
Steven on 7. Dezember 2016
Thanks Father!
But it wasn´t just me. We did it together.
Steven
Max on 16. Februar 2017
Ein wundervoller Bericht. Der ziemlich lang ist, und mich – ähnlich wie bei Guido – am Anfang etwas zweifeln ließ, was denn „der weiße Mann“ da zu suchen hat.
Und sehr schade, dass du am Ende weg musstest. Aber ein unglaubliches Engagement, und am Ende sogar ein Happy End.
Wirst du noch einmal hinfliegen?
Gruß, Max
Anye on 7. September 2018
………damn, absolut stark, geile Sache! bleib gesegnet! Anye
http://www.akumalam.org
Iolanta Zakharova on 22. Juli 2021
Hello Steve!
Really enjoyed reading your article & Experience!
Life Uganda is showcase of struggle in Life & all you humans must understand importance & definition of life!
Coming to Bright side, Have you been to Dubai they have lot to offer you for travel experience + they have hotels which is well know for best hotels to stay in Dubai!
koz.hk on 29. Oktober 2021
Thank you for sharing tips about road trip and I hope keep posting.