Global Water Challenge

INT'L WOMEN'S DAY:

Lightening the burden


Women in the developing world walk an average distance of 3.5 miles every day to collect water for their families. Clean water programs lift this burden, freeing up women's time to earn income.

Support these programs by registering to run in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water on April 18, 2010. People in cities around the world will participate in 6-km run/walks with concerts afterwards.



WOMEN'S STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Nakwetikya from Tanzania
Story from WaterAid

Nakwetikya from Ndedo, Tanzania, used to have to collect the scarce water available, polluted with animal and human waste, from the bottom of deep and dangerous hand-dug pits. Sickness and deaths were common. But life changed with the WaterAid project.

"The situation here used to be bleak," she explains. "There was no water and we had to dig pits to find some. Can you imagine what it was like? My legs used to shake with fear before climbing down those holes. There was no choice. If I didn't get water my family couldn't eat, wash or even have a drink.



"When I heard that we were going to get clean water I remember laughing, it was so funny. I can only compare it to someone who is in prison for a long time. When they are set free it's the most fantastic experience.



"Since having the new water source life has changed in so many amazing ways. My status as a woman has been finally recognized. I have the time to look after my family as we have more time and energy.



"Before we formed a committee and prepared ourselves as a community, men just saw women as animals. I think they thought of us as bats flapping around them. They had no respect for us and no one would allow you to speak or listen to what you had to say. When I stand up now in a group I am not an animal. I am a woman with a valid opinion. We have been encouraged and trained and the whole community has learned to understand us."


Adama, the Magajiya from Nigeria
Story from PSI

Adama Yakubu is the women leader (Magajiya) of the rural town of Ushafa Barracks Bwari Abuja, which is characterized by a poor drainage system and water supply. People in the community often collect water from nearby streams and shallow wells, resulting in a high prevalence of diarrhea among children in the community.

Adama knows the effects of unclean drinking water well: she lost her four-year-old child to diarrhea. Sadly she says, “If I had known about WaterGuard earlier my child would not have had diarrhea and will be alive today.”

Now, she volunteers as a trained peer educator with PSI to share quality information with her community that enables them to behave in a way that will prevent disease, promote health, prolong lives and facilitate recovery from illness. She’s now nicknamed the “WaterGuard Woman” in her community and is one of the most vibrant safe water educators in her region, reaching an average of 150 people with lifesaving messages monthly.




Mama Fatma from Kenya
Story from Water.org

Mama Fatma Chibole Swaleh is a woman with many roles in her community.

“I’m the Nyalenda Muungano convener as well as the national treasurer of the informal settlement Muungano movement,’’ she says jovially. ‘’As if that is not enough, I just got elected as a representative of the residents of Nyalenda into the board constituted by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company to safeguard their interests in water and sanitation matters.’’

‘’We have in the past received loans to improve our businesses but never before did we imagine loans could be availed for water connections. This idea is revolutionary and residents of Nyalenda cannot stop talking about it. Our children look forward to the household connections. This will give them time to do their homework,’’ says the 48 year old who has resided in Nyalenda for the last three decades.

‘’I especially love the fact that this project encourages the participation of women in decision making. They are part of the water teams and we are encouraging them to participate by applying for the water credit next quarter.’’

“As residents of Nyalenda we believe that water-borne disease will be minimized greatly since we are now using clean and safe water. I am short of words to express what I felt when we got this water. I would like to say to the God of Israel, bless those people who gave us this water."



Khushbu from India
Story from the Acumen Fund

Khushbu lives in a small village called Pachpadra in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Khusbu is participating in an innovative pilot program to cultivate women as entrepreneurs and help bring clean water to thousands in her village.

Acumen partnered with the local NGO Jal Bhagirathi Foundation to create a new water distribution model based upon in a unique partnership between the community (that owns and operates a water treatment plant), local government (that provides access to raw water and building for the plant) and the private sector (that provides the technology to treat the water). From one central treatment plant, water is now being sold to several depots managed by women entrepreneurs from self-help groups in the village, who in turn sell it at a profit.

"We earn 500 rupees daily, which we deposit in the bank. we use this money for paying the electricity bill and paying operator's salary, " Khushbu explained.

Today, she and other women like her, are bringing water closer to the communities that need it through this project, and earning a living by making it their business.   Watch news coverage of the program.