By Julie Cole | HOPE UK Fundraiser
The community in Alugude & Durbe is anxiously awaiting the start of the construction of the new water system that will transform the lives of the 1,986 people who live there. Not only will their days not be dominated by the search for water, which is currently 3-4 hours away by foot, but they will also not live in fear that the water they are drinking, cooking and cleaning with will be contaminated, leaving them and their loved ones with a deadly disease. The arrival of safe, clean water just minutes from their homes will change the way they live forever and will significantly improve the health of the community.
Whilst access to clean water is our primary aim, HOPE’s projects are not just about water infrastructure. Community mobilisation for the construction and on-going maintenance of the water system is a vital part of bringing about the long-lasting change and wider benefits that clean water offers. Project activities therefore also include establishing and equipping a Water Committee that will manage the project infrastructure after the project is completed. HOPE facilitates the election of this Water Committee (a 50/50 mixed gender group) and appointment of ten Water Caretakers (5 men and 5 women) who are trained while taking part in the actual construction process. These two groups are vital for the project’s sustainability, ensuring they are not reliant on HOPE or another organisation, but they know how to help themselves and have the knowledge to improve their own lives. Additionally, in a patriarchal society where women are not usually given a voice or positions of leadership, this model starts to challenge gender norms and offer opportunities for women to play a fuller role in decision-making.
Related to this, HOPE plans to also teach 200 of the neediest local women in Alugude & Durbe, who volunteer to be part of a Self Help Group (SHG), the importance of saving money and methods to do so. The project will equip them with skills to start and maintain small businesses which will be seed-funded through loans from their SHG. This will also provide an ongoing structure for these 200 women to receive community support and increased leadership opportunities, thus building confidence and empowerment. This is another significant component of our sustainable approach.
Beyond the formal end of HOPE’s Alugude & Durbe Water & Sanitation Project in May 2020, the benefits will be realised over the long-term. In other similar projects, HOPE's end surveys evidence economic improvement; improved relationships; increased self-confidence among women; and improved gender relations. Therefore, access to clean water is only the starting point a different future, but this is dependent upon HOPE's commitment to ensuring sustainability.
To demonstrate this, we encourage you to watch two 20 minute films, made in 2016 and 2017 by a Canadian film crew who volunteered their services to capture the impact of HOPE’s work in Ethiopia. To watch these, follow the link below to our website.
Thank you for your support of this project. Please tell others about HOPE's sustainable approach.
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