Health has been a topic of discussion lately in the Polewali community. During a lengthy meeting recently with the village Transformational Community Development (TCD) committee, the topic of hygiene was raised. The community has begun to realize that many environmental factors cause health issues. Some habits have been improved in the last year or so by constructing latrines instead of using gardens and rivers to relieve themselves. Now the community is turning their attention toward the quality of drinking water, which also has an impact on health.

The majority of Polewali residents still consume water directly without boiling it first. After laboratory tests were carried out, it was found that water in Balanipa is not recommended for direct consumption. Water must be sterilized or boiled first before drinking.

In 2023, members of the Polewali TCD Committee and team visited another TCD community to learn how to make a water filter using biochar. Then in 2024, they attempted to build their own water filters. However, along the way, various obstacles were encountered so that the project did not continue. This condition did not immediately discourage the community. The hope of creating a healthy lifestyle and getting water suitable for consumption encouraged the community to continue trying to make filters.

Currently, those who were previously trained are re-engaging with the community to continue the project. The goal is to create a filtering system at each of the five wells that have been constructed over the last few years of the TCD program. Taufiq,* one of the village leaders has taught a number of residents how to assemble filters to produce clean drinking water. Taufiq hopes that the water filters will be successfully developed and clean water can be enjoyed by the entire community – another step toward complete transformation of quality of life in Polewali.

*For the purpose of safety and wellbeing, “Taufiq”, is a pseudonym for the individual mentioned in this project.

Thank you,

Written by Didi, GHNI Partner