By Julie Cole | UK Fundraiser
As mentioned in our last report to you in July, HOPE is delighted to report that, despite many delays and challenges, the construction of the water system in Zala Dola is now complete and clean, safe water is now locally available for 1,484 men, women and children in this rural Ethiopian village. Your donation contributed to the health improvements and economic development that community members are now experiencing. The provision of clean water has been a significant catalyst of change, granting local people opportunity they can pursue because they are equipped with skills, support and time. Most significantly, there is an increased sense of confidence and hope for the future. There is now an emerging culture of women working together, embracing their opportunities with each other’s support. The local people have been invested in and they are feeling less neglected. They now feel they have a role to play in determining their future and the future of their children.
The following is one example of a woman from Zala Dola reporting an improvement in her quality of life:
Mirabe is 38 years old, married and has two children, one of which is school-aged. Before the start of HOPE’s project, Mirabe was a house wife and her husband was working as a farmer. They were not in the habit of saving nor generating any money. Mirabe and her neighbours had challenges with sanitation - problems with their pit latrine and maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. As a result, she and her neighbours were often ill from different diseases and they were also affected by different waterborne diseases because of the absence of clean water in their surrounding area.
Since HOPE’s intervention, Mirabe has received various training about personal and environmental hygiene, income generating activities, improved methods of communication, saving money and many other activities about improving the quality of her life. She is part of a Self-Help Group (SHG) and is now saving at least 5 birr every week and has saved 100 birr in total. Further to the training she received from HOPE, she recently started a small income-generating activity by taking out a loan from her SHG and bought a steer to fatten up to sell at the market.
Mirabe says, “Thanks to HOPE for giving wonderful training that makes me strong to change my life.”
Thank you for your support to help people like Mirabe to change her own life and improve the future for her children in such volatile and challenging times.
HOPE UK is now raising funds for a water system in another rural Ethiopian village. Would you consider also supporting our life-changing work in that community of 1,176? To read more and make a donation, click here.
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By Julie Cole | Fundraiser
By Julie Cole | UK Fundraiser
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