Kebedech collects water from the new water source constructed thanks to the support of WaterPartners' donors.
Thirty-year old Kebedech Hagos, a mother of two and the main provider for her family, used to walk two to three hours each day to fetch a single jug of water in her village of Guetelo, Ethiopia. Thanks to the support of WaterPartners donors like you, Kebedech now only walks five minutes from her home to the safe water point constructed with funds from WaterPartners.
The availability of safe water means everything for rural women like Kebedech. It provides great relief from the back-breaking and all-consuming task of collecting water by making it easily accessible – and safe to drink. With the time gained, girls can go to school and adult women like Kebedech can participate in income-generating activities.
“I used to travel for more than two hours to fetch water,” explained Kebedech. “After that I had to prepare food for my children. And I had to find time to work some farm activities to earn money for my family. This was extremely difficult for a mother like me. We now have great relief due to the construction of this safe water supply.”
With the new water source, Kebedech now has time to grow a vegetable garden.
Today, Kebedech sends her children to school. Her oldest is in eighth grade and her youngest is in fifth grade. Thanks to the new water source, she grows vegetables in her backyard to provide food for her family and selling the surplus produce gives her family extra income. She even has time to participate in other development activities, such as soil and water conservation through the Ethiopian government’s “food for work” program.
Kebedech is a member of the water and sanitation committee for the community’s new water source. “Water is our life,” says Kebedech. “Hence, we have to handle the water project with care and responsibility to ensure its sustainability.”
