BRINGING MORE THAN CLEAN WATER TO ZALA DOLA
in 2019 HOPE UK raised £101,000 to provide clean water for Zala Dola, a rural village in southern Ethiopia.
Despite facing a catalogue of life threatening challenges on top of existing poverty, there is positive news to report from this community of 1,484 people. Since April 2020 they have had access to clean water, ending their daily, arduous walks for water which took at least one hour per journey. Now that water can be collected in just 10 minutes, the Zala Dola School Director has reported a decreased absence rate as children can collect water for their families and still get to school in time.
There is also evidence that health and self-reliance are improving. Women are playing a larger part in earning money for their families and are pro-actively implementing new hygiene habits taught by HOPE staff. Pit latrines have been built by each household and training has been conducted for the 44 members of the locally appointed Water and Sanitation Association, which manages the new Zala Dola water system. Ten Water Caretakers have also been trained to act as local technicians to maintain and repair the water system. In both of these groups, 50% are women, reflecting their changing role in their community.
In addition, 140 women now benefit from the support and capacity-building training provided to the seven Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that meet weekly. All of these women have started a habit of saving money weekly and each woman - either in a group or alone - has taken out a loan from their SHG to start a small business. For example, Yoka, a 35-year old woman with four children, took out a loan from her SHG and opened a cafe, selling coffee, tea and sweet cakes. This business would not have been possible a year ago, because Yoka did not have the time, skills nor confidence to start a small business. SHGs have created a culture of women supporting each other and is changing the perception of the traditional 'woman's role'. One woman, Mirabe, said, 'Thanks to HOPE for giving wonderful training that makes me strong to change my life.'
Prior to HOPE’s intervention in Zala Dola, Samuel Gota, the Kebele Chairman, and Arega Abba, the Kebele’s Vice Chairman, explained that there were three main issues challenging Zala Dola:
Lack of clean water access
“Though it’s a basic need for us, we have no water systems in this community,” said Arega. People in Zala Dola currently fetch water from springs or streams nearest to their neighbourhoods which are often contaminated. “We are very much looking forward to eventually having clean and accessible water,” said Samuel.No Access to Health Facilities
Arega told us that there are no proper health facilities in this community. "There was once a private health clinic, but it closed down. There is a so-called health post, but they cannot treat most of their diseases, including water-borne diseases because most of the health posts in the rural sites do not have enough medicine, equipment or electricity to power the facilities. Therefore, the heath posts usually provide support to only pregnant mothers and children under 5 years old who are suffering from malnutrition." "If we get sick, and need proper treatment, we have to walk to the town of Geresse (about 10 to 15 kms from Zala Dola),” added one of the villagers.Poor road access to the community
Samuel explained that the poor access by roads to the community causes the above problems. Zala Dola is about 5.6 kms off of the main road, connected by another very rough and muddy dirt road. “So, even though we have problems that should be solved, the government doesn’t pay much attention to us,” he said. “We feel neglected.”
Since they are deeply aware of the difficult accessibility to Zala Dola, both Samuel and Arega were very thankful to HOPE for choosing their community as an intervention site.
“We thank you all, in God’s name, for coming to this remote area to help us. We are very happy and are ready to cooperate and contribute in any way you ask of us, The way is open for you.”
