Clean Water & New Skills for Uba Dama

We are pleased to report that work is now underway in Uba Dama!  The HOPE staff team have moved into the community and work is slowly progressing.

Unfortunately, there have been delays in the construction materials being delivered to the project site as there has been continued rain, leading to road accessibility problems.  In addition, high inflation and increasing prices have led to market instability and this has contributed to challenges purchasing the needed items.

These obstacles have slowed down project implementation, but it has meant the community has rallied to provide support to carry the building materials to the site from the nearest location the trucks can get to the village.  The unexpected outcome of the road problems has led to increased unity and participation around ensuring work could start on their new water system.  In addition, there has been a sense of increased ownership, which is a key value HOPE staff work to development for sustainability and to avoid creating dependency.

Therefore, in spite of the weather, construction has started on the water reservoir.  Work has also started on the nine water points and eight wash basins.   At the same time, the trenches are starting to be dug for the 6.4km pipeline that will carry the protected water from the newly capped spring to the reservoir.  

We are grateful for your support and will continue to update you on the progress of the Uba Dama project.

Please remember HOPE on #GivingTuesday, 28th November 2023.  We'd value your support for our next project in Tsito Tife.

T is 11 years old and in Year 7 at school.  She lives in Uba Dama, the community that HOPE UK has been raising funds for over the past nine months.  Fetching water from the Worbate river, an unprotected water source regularly used by her village, is her household chore.  This requires T to walk an hour from her home, a task she must do at least once each day.

Because T is in Year 7, the demands of school are high and she needs to study hard to pass to the next year. Sadly, T often feels tired after fetching water daily and she is unable to study.  This is reflected in her school performance. "Going to the river to fetch water as a day-to-day activity is very tiresome and challenging," she told a member of HOPE Ethiopia's staff.

T further explained that if there was access to clean, safe water closer to where she lives, it would have an especially big impact on women and girls, who hold the primary responsibility for sourcing water for their households.  "All of us would also be protected from diseases caused by drinking water from unprotected sources.  Sadly, young children suffer the most." T also said that if clean water access was nearby, she would be able to perform better at school as she would have more time and feel less tired.  

HOPE is pleased that the Uba Dama Water, Sanitation, Livelihood Skills and Environmental Protection Project is planned to start in July 2023.  HOPE has completed all of the necessary preparation, including a baseline survey of the community's health, income levels and general outlook.  Based on its 39 year investment in development projects in that area of Ethiopia, HOPE is confident that clean water access will improve the health of T, her family and the whole community of Uba Dama.  In addition, HOPE's additional investments in health, hygiene and sanitation education, plus livelihood skills training for 320 women, will lead to an increased income and an improved quality of life.  We are grateful for your investment in this community and look forward to sharing stories of transformation in Uba Dama.