working together for water
As we neared the meeting, the small group came over to greet us with song. I smiled through my heavy breathing from walking up part of a mountain and sat down unsure of what exactly I was going to witness or what show as going to be put on. But it was not a show, and once we sat down, the group got straight down to business. This group of 22 households is working together to get a rain tank. The tank that they will share is part of the current work plan, and they are gathering their contribution to the tank. So far they have money for half of the sand needed, the large stones have been brought and broken them to appropriate size, and some money collected for the remaining sand. There is still much to do: they need money for sand, money to pay the man who broke the stones down to size, 25 trees, and water to mix cement. I wondered how long this would take.
The next half hour was an efficient process of people saying what they could do and agreeing on when things should be done or money collected. In Western terms of, "Each person gives the exact same amount," the break down is not equitable. But each person is giving what they can, and each time someone said what they would give, everyone clapped. How did they reach 25 trees? I will give 2 trees. Clapping. I will give 1 tree.Clapping. I will give 3 trees. Clapping. I will give 10 tress. Clapping. I will give 5 trees. Clapping. I will give 4 trees. Clapping. And then someone said, "And those who are not giving trees, can carry the trees to the location." Decision made. And that is how each item went. When we asked how long this would take and when they would be ready, the estimate is one and a half weeks. Then the construction of the tank can begin. As the rains are just now starting, their tank should be completed in time to capture some of this water; during the next dry season they will not have to walk for hours to get water.
Today I did not watch a show, but participated in a beautiful expression of unity where a group is working together for water. I am thankful for today and have been thinking about what we in the West could learn about equitable contributions to a project and collaboration in grassroots efforts from this experience. Reflections on that in the future.
~ Pamela Crane, PhD, Africa Field Manager
(Water users group is pictured where their water tank will be; the lake in the background is where they currently getting their water.)
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