CARE has been working to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to communities in the highlands of Ethiopia for over eight years. These communities have been a vital part of making the programme work, and we want to show you some of the impact they've made.
Abebu was only eight-years-old when she married her husband and moved to his village in rural Ethiopia. Even though she was still a child; she was also a wife, which meant the household responsibilities fell to her, including looking after her in-laws and collecting water for the whole family. Her husband's name is Tega Arega, 51, but he is ill and cannot work.
Abebu is the caretaker of the shallow well built in her village as a result of a CARE WASH project. She received three days of training from CARE for her role and receives a small payment from the community for her time. She understands the importance of WASH as two of her four children have died before their first birthday from water related diseases.
Amar (name has been changed) washes his face with soap and water. His family used to get sick on a regular basis but now after CARE's WASH project they are healthy and don't have to walk as far for water.
Asradu Chekol collecting clean water from a pump built by the community and CARE.
Men putting the finishing touches on a recently built well, thanks to CARE's WASH project in the Amhara region of Ethiopia
Fikere Tesfaw (name has been changed), 16, walks to collect water
Her mother's involvement in the village WASH committee has inspired Fikere to join her school's sanitation club. Along with around 80 other students, Fikere teaches students and her community how to prevent illness through improved sanitation and hygiene practices like draining stagnant pools of water near the home to prevent malaria.
Yalemwork Ashazrie, 40 is divorced and has 4 kids. She is a Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) community member and caretaker of the local water pump. She helps promote sanitation and hygiene within her community. She is very happy to be a member of her local WASH and proud to be playing a vital role in improving her village's health.
I have gained so much knowledge and am very proud to have helped construct this water point. Earlier it was hard work to collect water from a stagnant water pond. It took me an hour to make the trip and now it only takes 10 minutes. And I spend my new found time farming, preparing food and performing the coffee ceremony for my family."
Since CARE started working in the highlands of Ethiopia, over 460 new water points such as wells have been built, as well as protected spot springs and rope pumps - all with the help of the local community.
