.jpg "Interview in Ethiopia 1")
Water.org is currently working with our local partner REST to bring safe water and sanitation to this village in rural Ethiopia – Aynalem – and Ato Muez Asgede, his wife, and son Birhane.
Ato Muez Asgede (household head)
Age: 41
Occupation: Farmer
Q: Describe your primary source of water.
A: We have a traditional hand-dug well that is used as the primary water source for my village.
Q: Do this source meet your family’s needs in the rainy and dry seasons?
A: No, it does not meet my family’s needs, especially during the dry months from March – June because the waiting time at the well is 3-4 hours and the collected water is not enough to satisfy our drinking, washing hands, and washing of utensils.
Q: How far is it to the primary water source? Who in your family usually collects water?
A: It is 30 minutes on average to the primary water source. My wife collects the water most of the time but often the children are responsible for collecting water, too. I rarely collect water except during holidays and cultural feasts.
Q: Does collecting water each day prevent the person collecting water from working, going to school, or conducting other activities?
A: Sometimes if it takes a long time for my wife to collect our water, I am forced to watch the children at home instead of going to agricultural activities. If my son collected water, then he is late in going to school most of the time, resulting in poor scores during exams.
Q: What is the quality of your water like?
A: The water source is exposed to contamination from livestock waste and has a bad taste.
Q: Do you or your family members get sick from the water? Describe the illness.
A: My son got sick and slept in the hospital for a week; the doctors informed me it was due to waterborne diseases. Each member of the family commonly gets sick from diarrhea at different intervals.
Q: Do you have any stories about collecting water that you would like to share?
A: My wife has been threatened by hyenas while fetching water from the water source early in the morning. My son has quarreled with my neighbor when fetching water.
Q: What do you want: a water and /or sanitation program? What are your hopes and expectations from the project?
A: I want my family to get enough water for drinking and other activities without spending more time on fetching and waiting. In addition to this, I want us to have enough availability of water so we can integrate sanitation that enables my family to keep our health. My hope is to see my children going to school on time and the water collection burden of my wife decreased. And also I expect the project to address the existing serious water problem of the village.
Q: What efforts have you made to start a water or sanitation program in the community?
A: I have a keen interest in starting a program as the problem of safe water supply is overwhelming. I have asked the village council to request the district to construct water supply projects.
Q: How do you think the proposed water/sanitation facilities should be managed?
A: We have an acute shortage of safe water and no one can afford for the water project to break down. So, we will set a by-law that details the collection of fees, regular maintenance, water committee establishment, hiring of guard, and a technician who operates the system.
Q: How did you come to work with this partner?
A: I came to know REST while I was working on irrigation structures such as diversions and dams in my vicinity.
Birhane Muez (son)
Age: 13
Student, Grade 4
Q: Do you help to collect water?
A: Yes, I help collect water most of the time.
Q: What size container do you normally use?
A: I use to carry a 10-liter jerrican of water.
Q: Do you have any stories about collecting water that you would like to share?
A: One time, while I was waiting for my turn, one of my neighbors tried to pass my turn and we got into a fight.
Q: What do you think water is important?
A: We make our food with it and also use it for drinking, and to keep our body and clothes clean. We need it to survive.
Q: What do you like about school?
A: Attending school helps to give me a broad knowledge base and job opportunities; for instance, I would like to be a teacher.
This story is part of our Giving Thanks: Story of the Day series that will run through the end of 2009. There are countless reasons to celebrate clean water and we want to bring you some of the first-hand accounts of its life-saving, life-changing impact for those we serve around the globe. We invite you to join us and give thanks, give water, give life.
