Bring clean water to an Ethiopian village of 1729

The work on the Kalebo Laka water system has been progressing nicely over the past three months. Much of the water infrastructure is now complete and the finishing touches on the water and wash points in the village just need to be completed.

Health and hygiene education is also being conducted throughout the village to ensure that the community is changing their behaviours in regards to cleanliness and sanitation. In fact, HOPE's Community Mobiliser, Lydia, will continue to live in Kalebo Laka for over a year (a new government guideline) to model and continue to embed these lessons to ensure that the benefits of having access to clean water are fully realised by the local community.

A HOPE UK supporter was travelling in Africa last month and spent an afternoon in Kalebo Laka, observing the nearly completed project. He was able to observe many components of the work being completed: the new water reservoir while men rendered the inside, pipes being laid from the capped spring to the reservoir and the foundations being prepared for the nine water points. Upon reflecting on his time in Kalebo Laka (and another village where the water system is now up and running), he writes "Addressing the impact of poverty is profoundly complex; no one person (the poor, charities/NGOs, donors) can solve it alone and it is a very imperfect science. But when you find yourself holding one of the jigsaw pieces that can help unlock the puzzle for even a few people, slotting it in place is maybe one of the best (and most humbling) feelings in the world."

Thank you for playing a part in addressing poverty in this very rural village in southwest Ethiopia. You also have helped to unlock the puzzle and have helped to change their future. They are very grateful.

Very shortly the taps will be turned on in Kalebo Laka. Access to clean water will not only improve their health but most significantly their future, giving them hope that they can improve their lives and the lives of future generations.  Thank you.

Thank you once again for your support of HOPE's next water project in Kalebo Laka.  Unfortunately, there has been a delay to the start of this water project due to unseasonal rain in Ethiopia and much of southern and eastern Africa.  This is a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has contributed to the lack of rain at the end of last year and the current abundance of rain, when it is not expected.  In the north of Ethiopia, unfortunately this has brought on drought and left millions of people in desperate need of food due to crop failure.  This is the worst drought in half a century, leaving ten million Ethiopians in that region of the country in need of food aid.

In south west Ethiopia, where HOPE has been working since 1986, the region has not suffered from drought but unexpected rains at present has meant that roads have been washed out and materials have not been able to be transported to Kalebo Laka for the water project to commence.  Last month, one of HOPE's 4 wheel-drive vehicles turned over trying to get through difficult roads and now has to be mended. This was due to the poor road quality and the extreme remoteness of the villages HOPE works in.  

Having reliable roads has now become the difference between having access to clean water and not.   Therefore, the local community in Kalebo Laka has been busy enlarging the roads, strengthening local bridges and working to clear the roads where mud build-up makes it is impossible for even 4 wheel-drive cars to travel.  This is the first task that the community has done together to allow HOPE to help bring clean water to their village.  Soon, when the rain ceases, the community will also be required to dig the trenches from the newly capped spring to the water (4.566 km) and also build two water tanks, nine water points and eight washbasins.  207 pit latrines have been planned as well which will be the responsibility of the community to dig.  

In a previous water project, the commitment of the community to start the water project was so great that they walked to the furthest point that vehicles could bring the materials and then physically carried the necessary equipment back to the village on foot.  Whilst this was time consuming and exhausting, it showed HOPE how passionate they were to have an operating water system and they would not let the poor quality of roads stop work from beginning in their community.  They were aware how clean water would transform their lives and they wanted nothing to hinder the project from starting.

HOPE has found that this level of community involvement leads to greater ownership of the water system.  The locally appointed Water Caretakers and Water Committee also play a significant part in the sustainability of the water system, maintaining and looking after its upkeep and making decisions about water fees, timings for water point usage, etc.  All combined this is helping the community to help itself and access to clean water is the initial catalyst.

Weather predictions show that the rain should soon be letting up and the community can start to clear the site where work will take place.  Therefore, it is looking positive that the water system will be up and running by September 2016.  

Thank you for the part you have played in bringing positive change to that community and helping them to helping themselves.