Friday's Field Report from Dalbaza
Updated: 2 days ago
Today was a relatively short day visiting the community of Dalbaza. I have sent you before and after photos of a lady there via Whatsapp FYI. Last time I met her, she was filling her jerry can from a really dirty hole. This time, she stands proudly at her new water source and fills her jerry can quickly with clean water. She is smiling and dignified and elegant. And as a slightly older lady, she is not risking injury. She told us how happy she is and reported to us that everyone is feeling better, especially the children.
This project supplies about 630 people, one clinic and one school with water. We have built two reservoirs, three water points, three washing tables and three cattle troughs over two kilometres. I spent the morning talking to the community, being mobbed by school children who were on their break as we inspected their water source, and washing faces and hands with the little children. Although the water source at the school is for the school children, it seems as though they go to school with a jerry can and carry it home full - brilliant!
We finished looking at Dalbaza by midday, so Yalew and I dropped in on our supplier of hardware, stone, cement and sand to give our regards. We also met the new manager of the Gesuba council. The former manager Adissu with whom we have a good relationship and was so helpful, has just been promoted to mayor. It was Kaleb’s first day on the job but he was delighted to meet us as he had heard a lot about us and he is hoping to walk with us through Qanqo either tomorrow or the day after. Qanqo is a massive project and will take two days walking through the mountains to see everything.
Cheers
Catherine
P.s. In March this lady in Dalbaza had to grovel in a dirty hole for water. Today when I visited the community I met the same lady as she collected water from the water point next to the clinic.
