Organizing Themselves Brought Change
August 27, 2024
“In all the many years we’ve spent trekking to the river to draw water, I never imagined that someday we would have a water tank right outside our house,” said Umi as she reflected on recent changes in her village.
On many occasions, various parties have promised to dig wells for the people of Polewali to improve their access to water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. These promises have not been kept, leaving the community feeling discouraged and hopeless. When Umi attended the Transformational Community Development (TCD) training along with her neighbors, they learned, “If we really want things to change, then we have to make changes.”
Umi and her husband invited the seven households around them to start a savings group where they pooled their money over several months to dig a well and install a pump and tank. They made a budget, succeeded in gathering 50% of the expense of materials, and organized the labor for the project. With just a little help from GHNI, Umi and her neighbors are now experiencing a new way of living and a new mindset.
Thank you,
Written by: Didi
GHNI Partner
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