Even though every citizen had wright to access pure water for drinking and personal hygiene protection and possible to live in clean and supportive environment, Semira and other 033 Marbet Kebele Residents were not entitled to accesses clean water in protective environments. 19 years old Semira Agmasse live in Marbet (033) Kebele under Kallu Woreda Amhara Regional State Province in the North east Amhara, one of the problematic area in accessing pure drinking water in the heart of plenty river water supply. According to the villagers and official justification more than have of the villagers are not used clean water. Numbers of villagers are using river water (Dirma) for drinking and sanitations and hygiene. Even the villages are green and highly irrigated and had sufficient unhygienic river water, there is serious problem of pure or hygienic drink water. Due to such reality Semira and other project beneficiaries Villager’s never accessed clean water. They were faced different health and other related problems. Semira and other 89 housed villagers categorized under those vulnerable groups.
Reducing Rural Food Insecurity and Poverty in South Wollo Administrative Zone of Amhara Regional State through Integrated Livelihood Creation and Diversification (LCD) project Kelem Ethiopia constructed handdug well in order to provide clean water for the villagers and preserve their health. Semira Agmasse was one of the villagers who are among beneficiaries of handdug well under the title Reducing Rural Food Insecurity and Poverty in South Wollo Administrative Zone of Amhara Regional State through Integrated Livelihood Creation and Diversification (LCD).
After Kelem cure members and community leaders and government representative did serious of baseline assessment on the need of clean waters in the village, they investigated that there were serious clean water problem and significant interest of handdug well.
After the baseline report were prepared for the each concerned bodies. (Kelem Ethiopia water and sanitation and hygiene expertise) organized Consultation meeting for all beneficiaries and concerned stakeholders in the grass root level on how to solve clean water problem. Handdug well construction was proposed as major solution from Consultation meeting.
After the construction of the handdug well, the villagers started benefited the fruits of Kelem Ethiopia projects. 89 household from villagers approximately (1200) and almost 665 from neighboring got and Kebele individuals become the beneficiaries of clean waters supply.
Semira Agmasse described the benefit of the handdug well in her words as follow:
“The construction of this handdug well is bringing different significant benefit for the villagers including elders, disable, students and other minorities in special ways”.19 years old Semira speak to our supervision teams.
Beside its benefit for accessing clean water it also become a means for women wright protection such wrights to be free from physical violence, sexual violence, harassment and discriminate action against women and girls. One of our informants during the supervision described the its role for protection as follow:
“The construction of this handdug well by Kelem Ethiopia has saved women from many problems. In previous time when we went inside the forest in order fetch water wild animals startle us, people attempt to rape us, in some occasion rape might be committed and physically harassed us. But thanks to Kelem Ethiopia they transformed us from risk averse or (unsecured) to full of secured”. Kelem Ethiopia brought light for us and we thank it as long as we live”. Said Semira Agmasse. One of the hand dug wall construction committee members shared Semiar ideas and presented as follow:
“In September, October, and November our area becomes forest. It so difficult for women and girls to move alone for fetching water from Dirma River, women possibly were exposed for different violence such rape, attempt rape and torch”. But know we are free all, long live for Kelem Ethiopia”. Said Kedija.
The construction of this handdug well avoids labour exploitation from women and children through minimizing the distance they went to fetch water.
“Know we never go Dirma we fethch water from here, thanks to you ( Kelem ethiopia)”. Said 57 years old Hawa mohammed.
The constructions of clean water at nearest place for all beneficiaries provide different benefit for girls who are enrolled in educations. It helps to avoid education lag and school out.one of our informant informed the following information:
“It has been great of great benefit to our (women and girls). In the past, when we went too far place in search of water we cut back on school, missed allots of class. Even we went; we were not effective due the class back and missed. But know the history are change there is no more class back, class miss and absenteeism Kelem Ethiopia changed that histories” Said 19 years old grade 8 student Semira Agmasse.
All of the beneficiaries that we meet in during our supervision and they key informant interviewee we were asked them about the benefit of the handdug well for them informed that, this handdug well provide allots advantages for the villagers even beyond. They justified that, as they secured their health due the clean water constructed by Kelem Ethiopia and community engagements. One the beneficiary described the impacts of project as follow: “Our children’s and family health is secured. In the past we drunk Dirma River, due this we used to get cholera, ambeba and bacteria. But know we accessed clean water in our village and our children and our health are protected from those diseases”. Said 35 years old zemzem. The committee member and Kebele health extension also confirmed that as the community member are getting health improvement or protected particularly from water born disease.
According to mid project progress assessment (outcome) assessment that Kelem Ethiopia and grass root stakeholder assessment on the mid impacts of project (constructing handdug well under Reducing Rural Food Insecurity and Poverty in South Wollo Administrative Zone of Amhara Regional State through Integrated Livelihood Creation and Diversification (LCD)) implied that, the project brought positive intended changes on the direct beneficiaries and non-direct beneficiaries. For instance one of beneficiaries and other stakeholder described that “kelem Ethiopia (Water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) construction for rural farmers) brought significant change on the beneficiaries and the community directly or indirectly”. Said Water construction committee chairman Ato Mekonnen.
Based on the success of (WASH) construction of handdug well for very vulnerable population’s rural area under project livelihood creation and diversification (LCD), the beneficiaries of the project, stakeholder and the community member recommended or demanded that project should be continued and expanded and need to help those remaining unreached Rural community and their family in order to make them to aspire the wrights to drunk clean water and safeguarding their health.
