ActionAid supported water works in Janamora Woreda in Gonder Zone of the Amhara State have totally curbed problems related with lack of potable water benefiting 12,231 residents of Mekane Birhan town and Denkolako peasants enclave of the woreda.
Road and bridge construction and school expansion were also among the fruits of ActionAid’s development interventions inaugurated on the occasion.
The water facilities inaugurated, 9 May 2011, were constructed at the cost of birr 9.95 million of which 4.42 million was covered by ActionAid while the woreda Administration and the regional State’s Water Development Office covered 2.03 and 2.46 millions of the costs respectively. The community of the area contributed labor worth birr 860,000 of the costs.
In addition to the construction of the water works, ActionAid supported the initiation of the Janamora Women Water Supply and Management Development Association (JWWSDA) which is in charge of managing and sustaining the facility. Facilitating training and exposure visit to Vicky’s Water Project for the Association’s board members and partner office representatives, AAE equipped the leadership and other pertinent bodied with the know how to carry the responsibility.
Prior to the construction of the water works, Janamora women and girls trekked kms in search of unprotected water sources. Girls and women had to line up until midnight to fetch a jerican of water from unprotected water bodies.
Children and the community at large lived on unsafe water which exposed many to sever health problems. “at times I was obliged to miss classes as I had to queue up for hours before I filled my Jerican,” said Birhan Ewnetu a seventh grade student grad student in Mekane Birhan town.
JWWSDA, being the first firm in the area being led by women is expected to set example of women leadership challenging the trend of dissociating women from leadership roles in the woreda, zone and beyond.
ActionAid also supported availing equipments necessary for operation and maintenance of the water works and running the office as well as capacitating the management board. It also supported the recruitment of four water sellers, six guards, a technician and an accountant.
As part of it extended support, ActionAid will work on finalization of the business plan and recruitment of a manager for JWWSDA while it will also channel seed money to help the association begin its works.
AAE supported clean water facilities relieve Janamora women and girls from trekking kilometers and queuing up for hours at unprotected scars water bodies.