Thrive not survive

I hadn't really understood before I came on this trip how much difference having safe water and sanitation makes to the individual, family and community. Not in terms of their health, that was clear and obvious to me, but in terms of their well being, happiness and ability to see a future.

When you are without water and sanitation you become a slave to  it, it controls all aspects your life, especially if you are a female. Having to do multiple journeys every day, covering many miles carrying 20 to 30 kg of water each time can take several hours every day of the week. Getting up at 5am to walk a couple of miles to go to the toilet to avoid the embarrassment of being seen whilst been fearful for your own safety isn't anything I want to have to endure and nor do I want anyone else to have to either.

Open drains in Shiv Nagar slum

Each pot holds about 15 litres so a double stack is about 30 kgs 

Taking away that burden has changed all the people and communities we have met this week for the better. They have been able to take back control of their lives, think about the future, invest time in their children, be more productive and most importantly have pride in themselves. The way WaterAid  and the local organisations work is to educate the people and mobilise them.  They work together to get a total and sustainable solution to their needs which the community contributes to and owns going forwards ... and they aren't stopping with just water, they are now seeking better roads, more schools and also sharing their experiences with other villages to help them do the same.

Hand washing at Padli School

New latrine at Amrod village

A day in two parts, part 2

I'm not sure I can find the right superlatives to describe the time we had with the school children of Padli village today. It was an absolute pleasure and joy to talk to them, ask questions and be asked questions back. I think you'll get a sense of it from the photos.

Their village has recently achieved 100% sanitation coverage and this is thanks to the children and their teachers changing the attitudes of parents and elders. It proves what a force for change children can be and how educating the younger generation can also teach the older generations.

The area around the school was often used for open defecation as it was one of the few areas available to the villagers but this clearly meant that it was unclean for the children to play and they had to endure the stench that came with the waste.

So what did they do ? A group of children went to school extra early to play games outside to prevent people using the school grounds for open defecation. They also got whistles and blew them if someone tried and use the area. In addition to this they took what they had learnt at school home with them to teach their parents the benefits of sanitation.

Again, what have WaterAid done to help this, they have provided support to the local organisations that have worked with the village and in this case the school to change behaviours which in turn has created real changes in the community in question.

Thumbs up!

The Minister for Education from the school Parliament

A day in two parts, part 1

Please excuse the pun but today we've been doing some digging around on how communities realise they need better sanitation and have uncovered some uncomfortable truths. We've also been helping them dig out the last few latrine pits and build up the toilet walls.

We had a fabulous greeting in the village of Amrod today and we learnt about how they had gone from no sanitation to nearly 100% of households having toilets since September last year. They have built 75 latrines and only have a handful to go which should be built this month. The government has not funded this work and so they have paid for it themselves as it had become an important issue to them.

In most of our encounters water has come first and sanitation second but this village has done it the other way around. We were told that the women were experiencing most of the problems as they were embarrassed about having to go to the toilet outside. This is especially a problem for young girls at school when they reach puberty.  If there are no facilities for them during their menstrual cycle then they don't go to school, that means they could miss out on 25% of there education !

Then we got to the real reason why they wanted latrines. To make sure you understand the situation, when we talk about 'open defecation' this isn't people just nipping outside by the back door, they are likely to walk some distance away from their homes and the village in order to go to the toilet, maybe well over a kilometer. This leaves the women and girls very vulnerable. The critical point for this village was hearing that a girl from a neighbouring village had been sexually attacked. We quite often use the phrase 'safe water supply' but in this village, although they understand the hygiene benefits, the primary reason for the household latrines is for the personal safety of the women and children.

 

So what part do WaterAid play in all this? They support local organisations that can educate and support the villages in making plans for themselves. The village always thought they couldn't afford toilets nor had the space but, by working together and setting up local committees, they soon realised what they could do...

Digging the leach pit

Lined leach pit waiting for its cover slab as the one behind

A bit of brick laying

A completed latrine

Sketch of how it all works

Travelling

Today we've travelled from Gwalior, south to Bhopal where we'll be staying til Saturday so I thought I'd post up few pictures from our journeys so far ...

Waiting for a train

Somewhere along the way

Gwalior  Station

I think these are a bit stuck

We have no idea how they load these trailers

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

Generosity and dignity

Today we've met with family groups from two different villages, one 'pre-intervention' and one post. In the first village we were met with a welcome that was quite overwhelming with flower garlands, drumming, dancing and speeches. Someone will have had to walk miles this morning to get fresh flowers and then spend the time to make them up for 20 people ! This generosity was shown everywhere else we've visited today - I've received more garlands, sweets and a scarf, which is really quite humbling but not as much as the whole village turning out to meet you !

We signed our name on a banner made to commemorate our visit. I feel quite proud to have my name there but it really represents everyone else who's given time and money to WaterAid and not just me.


In small groups we then went into a family home to find out more about them which is where I got to know a little bit about Siva, her husband and her 4 year old son. We talked about how they live, earn money and of course how they get their water.  We also helped them fetch some water and went to see the planned location of the new well and hand pump that is going to be installed. One thing that struck me was when I asked Siva what was going to be different when they had the new supply for the village she told us she would be able to be clean - herself, her family and home. It reminded me that access to water is more than being able to drink and prepare food but also means you can live a more dignified life as well. These are very unassuming people who aren't asking for much and certainly deserve safe water that isn't up to a 2km trek 3 times a day with 20kg on your head !

Journey to Gwalior

Its been quite a long journey, I set off from Derby at 9am on Saturday and we made it to our hotel lunchtime on Sunday (English time) with not much sleep in between.

Here are a few pictures from the journey :