By Julie Cole | Fundraiser, HOPE UK
Clean water has arrived in Kalebo Laka! As a result, the past few weeks have been exciting times in this small, rural village of just 1,729 people!
At the handover ceremony during the first week of December, the community sang, “History has been made! Clean water has arrived!” Members of the elected Water Committee agreed to take over the management and trained Water Caretakers have taken over the maintenance of the new water system, ensuring it will serve the community for many years to come. Everyone knows that the future will be positively different – with improved health, time for schooling and opportunities for income generating activities.
The new local water points have now become a focus for gathering and socializing within the village. Previously, women and children used to walk hours to access water which was often contaminated and made them unwell. Now, safe water can be collected just minutes from their homes and there is also time for talking, chatting and supporting one another. This has also been seen in previous villages that HOPE has worked in, as access to clean water has brought about improved relationships throughout the village as women have time to support and provide advice to one another. Similarly, children are increasingly starting to play in their spare time when not attending school.
Health, hygiene and sanitation education has been provided by HOPE staff to each household in the village since the commencement of the Water Project. There have also been local people appointed to assist with this role of championing changed behaviors surrounding hygiene. This will carry on over the coming months and years.
In addition to the new Water System, 200 local women in Kalebo Laka are also starting to benefit from additional investment. Self Help Groups have been formed and basic business skills, as well as principles of saving and lending, will be taught so that those women can find increased means to financially contribute to their families and can model and teach their new skills to others in the community. A HOPE member of staff will continue to live in Kalebo Laka for the next two years to deliver this training and support the continued health education.
Thank you for playing your part in ‘bringing history’ to this remote, Ethiopian village. We are now focusing our efforts on raising funds for the next village, Mela Gagula. We invite you to bring life-changing water to that village too!
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