Monday, December 15, 2014

The day was long (11 hours plus at wells), the roads were rough (really rough), the walks were long and the hills were steep.  All this was poured on the dirt as the joy was expressed, the smiles were full and the gratitude expressed was very humbling.   Words fall so short.

Some last minute planning before we took off – standing Gashaw Semeneh Hailemariam, Water to Thrive, contract geologist, seated – Whib Tefaselassie and Gebremariam Seyoum with Relief Society of Tigray (REST) our implementing partner here in Tigray and Michael O’Keefe, Program Manager, Water to Thrive.

On our way to our first well – a walk of about 2 miles after driving as far as we could in our 4 wheel drive Toyota, I noticed this subsistence farmer heading to the field.  He is carrying the yoke for his oxen over his right shoulder and the pointed hook used to till the soil over his left shoulder. 

 

Leaving the well with a full jerry can on her back and a donkey carrying two large plastic containers.  Note the home up on the hillside.  The goal is to have a disease free water well within a miles distance of homes. 

 

At our next well stop we spotted these young ladies and asked them to pose for us and our hosts helped us to have them giggling a bit and big smiles.  Uplifting to be sure. 

Every well is special however a Water to Thrive board member funded this well and it was matched by an employer.  Here we have school children fetching water to and or from school.  School is in two shifts here – AM and PM as it allows space to be used twice.  Previous source 1 & ½ hour walk to a small river full of water borne diseases.

We ask for these communities to not treat us to food and refreshments – we find that their sharing is who they are.  Here you see the bench set for us to sit and the branches are another hospitality happening.  The feeling of humbleness is overpowering.  People with so little sharing their all. This was followed with several kinds of bread, boiled eggs, coffee and more.

As we were finishing our visit water collection time was about to begin (generally each well is open for 2-3 hours in the AM and PM.  The water committee and community determine the hours.

As we about to leave this group of grateful ladies stopped us to express their gratefulness in health terms and that their walk time has been reduced so they have more time to do household tasks.  This is a rehab well and they therefore know the benefits of disease free water.  While the pump was not functional much illness and deaths of children.

OK – time for confession.  I started up this hill to go to a spring protection system.  The climb was up about 700 feet of elevation, a walk along the top and to the spring and I decided this old guy should just wait for their return.  Had a chance to chat with our driver.  And talking about drivers – we have the best one we have had on this trip.  Really special on these very rocky roads.  The day was very rewarding.  Hope these updates are sharing many aspects of our Water to Thrive efforts of making life better for many.  Water – a very special chemical!  Thanks to all of you for making it happen. 

-Ed Scharlau    

 

 

 

Monday, December 15, 2014

The day was long (11 hours plus at wells), the roads were rough (really rough), the walks were long and the hills were steep.  All this was poured on the dirt as the joy was expressed, the smiles were full and the gratitude expressed was very humbling.   Words fall so short.

Some last minute planning before we took off – standing Gashaw Semeneh Hailemariam, Water to Thrive, contract geologist, seated – Whib Tefaselassie and Gebremariam Seyoum with Relief Society of Tigray (REST) our implementing partner here in Tigray and Michael O’Keefe, Program Manager, Water to Thrive.

On our way to our first well – a walk of about 2 miles after driving as far as we could in our 4 wheel drive Toyota, I noticed this subsistence farmer heading to the field.  He is carrying the yoke for his oxen over his right shoulder and the pointed hook used to till the soil over his left shoulder. 

 

Leaving the well with a full jerry can on her back and a donkey carrying two large plastic containers.  Note the home up on the hillside.  The goal is to have a disease free water well within a miles distance of homes. 

 

At our next well stop we spotted these young ladies and asked them to pose for us and our hosts helped us to have them giggling a bit and big smiles.  Uplifting to be sure. 

Every well is special however a Water to Thrive board member funded this well and it was matched by an employer.  Here we have school children fetching water to and or from school.  School is in two shifts here – AM and PM as it allows space to be used twice.  Previous source 1 & ½ hour walk to a small river full of water borne diseases.

We ask for these communities to not treat us to food and refreshments – we find that their sharing is who they are.  Here you see the bench set for us to sit and the branches are another hospitality happening.  The feeling of humbleness is overpowering.  People with so little sharing their all. This was followed with several kinds of bread, boiled eggs, coffee and more.

As we were finishing our visit water collection time was about to begin (generally each well is open for 2-3 hours in the AM and PM.  The water committee and community determine the hours.

As we about to leave this group of grateful ladies stopped us to express their gratefulness in health terms and that their walk time has been reduced so they have more time to do household tasks.  This is a rehab well and they therefore know the benefits of disease free water.  While the pump was not functional much illness and deaths of children.

OK – time for confession.  I started up this hill to go to a spring protection system.  The climb was up about 700 feet of elevation, a walk along the top and to the spring and I decided this old guy should just wait for their return.  Had a chance to chat with our driver.  And talking about drivers – we have the best one we have had on this trip.  Really special on these very rocky roads.  The day was very rewarding.  Hope these updates are sharing many aspects of our Water to Thrive efforts of making life better for many.  Water – a very special chemical!  Thanks to all of you for making it happen. 

-Ed Scharlau