Access to Clean Water in Central Ethiopia is Life-Changing to Girls and Women
“…everyone’s life changed in so many ways! The women and girls of our village (Hodo village) no longer spend hours fetching water from the river, and we feel dignified. My girls are no longer late for school, and none of my children have been sick with water-borne diseases.” [Image description: an Ethiopian woman with a pink headscarf stands in front of tall bushes.}
Kedija remembers the daily struggle of fetching water from the river. She and her two daughters would spend hours every day collecting unsafe water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and watering their farmland.
“There was always a shortage of water in my home. We would fetch water from the river 20 minutes away, and it was exhausting for me. My daughters were always late for school and were exhausted by the time they arrived. The river water was always dirty and tasted terrible. My children would get sick from water-borne diseases, and we struggled to pay for their medications. It was impossible. During the rainy season, the water was even dirtier, and the river would flood, making it very dangerous for us to collect water or wash our clothes.”
Women and girls no longer have to fetch water from dirty rivers. Before the installation of a water station, the Lamo River was the main water source for many families. [Image description: a teenage girl is fetching dirty water from the Lamo River. The water is brown, and the area is rocky and unsafe.]
Lack of access to clean water impacts every aspect of a woman's life. But Kedija’s life changed for the better when a water station was built near her home.
“When the water station was built near our home, everyone’s life changed in so many ways! The women and girls of our village no longer spend hours fetching water from the river, and we feel dignified. My girls are no longer late for school, and my children haven’t been sick with water-borne diseases. I am happy that our water is clean and tastes good. With my extra time, I started a small honey business and purchased a donkey with some of my profits. Now, our donkey carries the water for my family. My family’s well-being has improved dramatically, thanks to the water station.”
Alifa (right) shared, "Before this water station, my children were always sick. But now, my family is healthy, and our water is clean." Water is Life!” [Image description: an Ethiopian woman is at a water station, filling her jerry can with water.]
Access to clean water is transformative for girls and women in Ethiopia.
Girls and children don’t miss school and are focusing their energy on learning and studying.
Whole families are healthier and no longer suffer from diseases or water-borne illnesses.
Women and mothers can better care for their families and start small businesses.
Farms are more robust and produce healthier crops with the increased water availability.
This young girl takes care of her morning chore of fetching water quickly because her water station is near her home. The young girl behind her is fetching water for her family's farm. [Image description: A young Ethiopian girl is carrying an orange jug filled with water. A slightly older Ethiopian girl is behind her and is pouring water into a green watering can. There are several orange jugs waiting to be filled. An older woman in the background is gazing wistfully at the two girls.]