Confidence and pride

So what happens when you give a village safe water and sanitation ?

My thoughts from the last two days are, apart from the obvious health benefits:

CONFIDENCE -  in themselves as a whole but especially the women. They are instrumental in making it all happen. Fetching water is women's work so often the men don't always see the point as it won't affect them on a day to day basis. The women on the other hand know that they will have more time for their children who will be able to spend more time studying for school rather than fetching water. Both villages who had the benefit of project work were brimming with confidence and could be PROUD of what they had achieved. Often, in order to make sure the village takes ownership of a project, they will be asked to contribute either in money or by providing labour for some of the work. It's also worth saying that these projects are as much about the people as they are the equipment. The project team may spend up to 3 years with a village undertaking hygiene education and training people to test the water as well as essential maintenance skills. The community will also pay towards the upkeep of equipment making them self sustaining.

In the villages where they still need support, when you ask them about the future they can't answer you. They don't have the luxury of thinking beyond tomorrow and live a day to day existence. Access to water can give them the time back that allows them for example to be more productive farmers because the women can also work in the fields, which in turn brings food and wealth into the home.

Kamhar village water scheme:

Village schematic

Pond created by the check dam

Check dam