A Well Drilled

In April 2011, just shy of a year later, we returned to Aparango to see how things were going. The well looked great: the village had built a fence around it to keep animals from stepping or defecating on the well pad or drinking directly from the well. Any run-off water was diverted nicely, not pooling around the well in a muddy mess. The well itself worked beautifully.

Not far from the well, four women sat talking. We struck up a conversation with them, and we learned that they were neighbors. Between the four of them, they had fourteen children - all of whom depended on water from this well. Since it takes water to make water, we asked, "Did you help carry water for the well drilling last year?" 

Each jerrycan holds 20 liters, which weighs 44 pounds. These women had each worked hard to help build the well that was now giving them clean water. Before, they were getting water from an unprotected and contaminated spring (think small pond or large mud puddle). Now they have water from a drilled well - water that is safe for them and their children.

We asked if we could take their picture with the jerrycans, an important part of the water process. They said yes - so we lined up the jerrycans and the four women posed behind the cans. When we showed them the picture on the digital camera, we asked if they wanted to change anything in the picture. At first the women said they liked the picture, but then they started talking. Choosing to change their pose, they moved to standing back-to-back with hands held together. These women helped create this image, just like they helped to create their well. It could not be more perfect: this is how they are working to bring up their village - by working together.