My “SH” conversion in Ethiopia

Field story for the Source Story Competion 2010, by Leslie Hawthorne Klingler, Communications Manager, Lifewater International.

For years, I have talked about sanitation and hygiene as crucial components of sustainable water development. The acronym WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) rolls off my tongue, and I cheer when I hear our supporters using it themselves. But do I really believe that WASH can change lives? After a “conversion” experience in Ethiopia, I can confidently vouch for WASH—or even just the SH part of it—as an effective means of community transformation.

In April 2010, I traveled to Ethiopia to document a 22-month project carried out by my organization, Lifewater International, in ten rural communities (kebeles) near the town of Hosanna. With a total population of 56,000, the communities had often requested help in obtaining safe water. As usual, requests for sanitation and hygiene education were far less common. In fact, many people were fearful of latrines; the crumbly soil had caused a number of latrine collapses, making sanitation efforts unpopular.

Gone are those days

Hawassa established 50 years ago on a plain land that lies between the wetland of Wondo Genet and Lake Hawassa, 275 KM south of the capital Addis Ababa is beautiful and lovely. It is one of the few Ethiopian towns whose establishment has taken in to account modern urban management concepts.

The topography, the moderate climate, the wide and clean roads of which most are asphalted, the lake, the resort hotels, and the other various services make anyone to easily like Hawassa. Many who come to Hawassa adore it for these things. However, such an adoration that comes from its partial view has hidden the plight of some part of its population.

Anyone who happens to be among the residents of Bahil Adarash and Mehal Ketema sub city in the town may doubt that he/she is in Hawassa.

Water is Life: A story from rural Ethiopia

The rain continues to fall, flooding the newly paved road as my colleague and I leave behind Addis Ababa. We’re on our way to the field office of our African partner, Oromo Self Reliance Association (OSRA), two hours away.

By the time we arrive, our white truck is mud-spattered as we pull in, eager to meet Jitu, who is waiting for us in the dimly lit office. Though we can’t understand each other’s language, her calm presence, warm smile and handshake surpass words. The wrinkles on her face make her appear older than her 38 years, yet her eyes have a youthful spark. She gestures for me to sit, and we sip coffee while my colleague, Getu Alemu Hunde makes introductions.

The disturbing story she tells me is like the stories told by millions of other African women. Speaking softly in Oromo, the dominant language in the region, she describes the day her daughter was born.

Children “tired of fighting with flies” are on the march

12 May 2007 was a Saturday, and market day in Leku Town, South Ethiopia. At around 10 am, a crowd of about 200 children appeared and the streets filled with shouts. The shouts were not for their soccer team; but for improved health, as part of a demonstration for a clean environment.
Children carried placards condemning open defecation.

One read: “We need to live in clean environment!”

Another read: “Cats do not defecate in the open, but we people do! Let’s learn from cats!”

Others say:

“We don’t tolerate open defecation!”

“Defecating in open field is a rude and anti-development act.”
People attending the market watched the young people with interest and surprise. The demonstration was organised by Leku School Sanitation Club, passed by with children who had participated in CLTS field exercises in their villages. Police gave the children protection and the event was covered by the local FM radio.