There's more to providing clean water than you might think. It's one thing to make water flow today – it’s another thing to keep it flowing in the future.
Based on decades of experience, World Vision knows the steps to take to ensure sustainability. Long-term success depends on community partnership and participation right from a project's outset. It also depends on equipping people with the skills and training they need to manage their new water systems.
The story of one Ethiopian village is a good example. For generations, people in this village got their drinking water from polluted surface water sources like rivers or streams. However, the village was located not far from underground springs of excellent quality. World Vision initiated a project to cap the springs to protect them from contamination, and to pipe the clean water into the village.
A number of residents were initially sceptical about this plan. However, 120 out of 334 households agreed to participate. Each household contributed labor to maintain a road for transporting construction materials to the construction site. World Vision staff helped community members form water committees, and they provided training on sanitation and water management.
Now, people in this village enjoy potable water that is equal or better in quality than nearby town dwellers, and the sanitation situation is much improved. Through this project, people learned they can make a real difference. They feel empowered to continue improving their living conditions by working together.
When you give to World Vision, you benefit from our years of experience in sustainable, community-based work. Please invest in our Ethiopia water programs today.
