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A decade ago, I had to get up at 3 AM every day to walk 5 km to collect water from a river. I did not arrive back home before 10 AM, which meant I was often late for work at the local school where I was teacher. Sometimes my children had water to wash and for breakfast. Sometimes, they did not. They often went to school late and without food because of my absence.

Fetching water took up most of the women’s day. Lack of water often resulted in quarrels, wife beating or even divorce. During their dawn journey to the river, women were sometimes bitten by snakes, while others fell and were injured. In the long dry season from November to March quarrels would break out in the fight for water, and during the raining season diarrhoea, dysentery, guinea worm and cholera were rife. Many children were severely malnourished.

Because girls were expected to help, very few enrolled in schools. In many deprived communities only one woman is educated for every 30 men. I was the only female teacher in my school.

In 1994 I heard about WaterAid’s work in Ghana. I organised our community and applied for assistance. In 1995, after several meetings, the project was agreed and the first two hand-dug wells were constructed. The community provided labour, contributed funds and bought the handpumps. WaterAid provided skilled labour and materials, and its partner organisation Rural Aid monitored the project, provided support and lined the wells.

The community maintains and manages the handpumps, using funds that we contribute monthly for repairs.

On the first day after the handpump was installed I woke up at 6 AM and cried out because I was too late to fetch water from the river. Then I realised that my excited children had woken earlier and filled the water pots with clean water and were already preparing breakfast.

Since then life in my community has been more peaceful. Men and children, as well as women, fetch water for all their needs and there is a remarkable increase in school enrolment for both boys and girls. Our primary school is now fully staffed because teachers are willing to accept jobs where there is water nearby.

Women’s lives have been greatly enhanced. They have time to look after their families and earn money by weaving or farming. Women have become more involved in decision-making and can take up leadership roles – something that was unthinkable before. They are seen as equals. Communities manage local and environmental resources, which in turn has led to improved living conditions and better health.

I feel so happy having water at my doorstep, 24 hours a day, knowing that my children are safe from water related diseases. And value was added to my life once I also had access to a toilet.

Dirección web - http://www.irc.nl
Autor - Lucy Akanboguure
Idioma(s) - English
Origen geográfico - Ghana