Building futures - the handprints to come.

Amrod Village - Madhya pradesh
A wonderful welcome in the lovely tranquil farming village of Amrod. We had a coconut presented to each WaterAid supporter which was a symbol of "warmth and love to you". There is a total of 84 families (570 people) in its village and water is seasonal and scarce. Open defecation was practiced by its villagers.

Villagers were met in the outset in evenings away from the main time villagers were out on farm work. In Sept 2012 a plan was put together with input from whole community. ...children, women, minority groups etc. Because the fields are full of crops the space was limited and people were using roadsides to go to the loo. Womens safety was an issue after an incident occurred to a young girl.  The community decided it would be 100% open defecation free. And it looks like by the end of next month that will be done. It has only 9 loos to go! And the community are so enthused they are taking their message out to surrounding villages.

Amar singh decided was the first not to wait for the government but to build his own latrine as he was in fear of his wife's safety when going out. The others have followed on inspired by his initiative and example. Amar told me there was probably 4 or 5 children under  the age of 5 that died each year and that was due to the sanitation issues mostly. The government and the villagers are now working towards a piped water supply. The village now has a 5 year plan..... it dreams and works towards a safe future.

This child is the same age as my daughter. She watches her father as he builds her a safer cleaner future. - The New Toilet

I watched a good man today move bricks and build up the layers into the wall of his new latrine.  The pits had already been dug and this was the next stage.  It takes about 8 days to dig the whole latrine and construct the brickwork. He worked hard as his two beautiful daughter's watched on, the eldest sometimes passing him a brick. He is doing this for them to ensure his family can go to the toilet in safety and it is much more hygienic.

We were I invited into their house and given a bed to sit on whilst we asked a few questions more. His wife was so elegant, loving and kind. In her home surrounded by her warmth and kindly manner it struck me with a defensive slap to the face how I didn't want this lovely sweet natured lady with her daughters to be on a roadside for life's necessities. So you can imagine how reassured I felt to see her dignity and security being restored through simple bricks and mortar. Having myself the opportunity to dig some of the pits and add in some bricks of my own and thus have some small part in rebuilding their "future" was most gratifying. I can leave in the knowledge that many more hand prints can be added by future generations on the wall - That all the children will grow up to see their own children's hand prints adorn the wall of this house.

This little girl sits on the family bed also called a cot

Now the people of this Village spread the word to other communities "You can have this".

 Futures changed for the better.

It's more than just water - it is creating destiny!

Wow what a road we travelled today...in both senses. The physical road we travelled was bumpy and the traffic rules in India well I haven't quite worked that one out.  The people I am visiting have a road to travel or have travelled along so far and the foundations need to be strong to build upon. The foundation I speak of is that of "community engagement" because projects can only succeed when the community are involved and there is a long term sustainable plan created on the outset of projects to ensure they continue with the good work initially done. What I mean by this Is what I have seen by the formation of community groups taking responsibility in their own water supply issues, sanitation issues, health issues and by training up villagers to educate and maintain the pumps/latrines etc.I got out of the mini bus in the village of Jonhar. With my feet placed gently onto the solid earth and once my bones stopped jiggling on their tendons on the post bumpy journey I was able to follow my other WaterAid supporters into the village meeting place...... under a tree (a familiar place for a Countryside Ranger from the Elan Valley to be) with large rocks in the landscape and some rather interesting historical features ( forts and palaces rather than Dams siloheted on the horizon). I will stop waffling now :-).Of course we received a lavish welcome. We took up our places under the tree with the beat of the drums to see us to our places. 

We met with the womens group and heard from them the issues around water and sanitation from their point of view. Some factors they felt were some whrre old and had sore joints to walk the Kilometre and back 5 times a day (rhambiti). Young girls carry water (Indra -mother). Krishna is 12 and has to get up before school to collect water. Watering livestock is done....the day is spent in water collection. Water is not covered and there is rubbish families get very sick. 100% of community defecate in the open. Young girls are afraid at night to go out into areas to toilet. Mum usally accompanies them. This is a farming community with 1157 people. Sanitation issues need to be implemented. There is very little hygiene awareness and the community is considered vulnerable. I had an opportunity to draw water from the open well. I felt for the young girls who carried these heavy urns on their heads to and from their homes. I enjoyed showing the children pictures of our livestock, snow and scenery. I think they enjoyed it as it gathered into quite a crowd!

Our second visit was to Kamhar - a success post WaterAid community and an inspiration to how a little help can start many balls rolling. This village has 624 people and again agriculture and livestick farming is the main employment. They welcomed us with a lush feast of peanuts, freshly harvested peas, sweet biscuits and fruit. Two young girls floated past in their saris bestowing the red paint between our brows and placing a garland of red orange yellow and white flowers around our necks. I was informed this red mark means destiny. This village was once in the same situation as the first village. The community was supported by WaterAid which involved  addressing water and sanitation issues through engaging the community and capacity building. They are now rain water harvesting, have a piped supply of water, latrines in 70% of the houses, there are childrens rallys on hand washing, have trained mechanics to deal with provisions, the community dug drains and even have a check Dam. All open wells have been covered. Money provided by each household pays the salary of the attendants and extra will be invested in setting up buisness' such as basket making and recycling clothes and materials.
So final thought....... we have the red paint for our destiny however these people have created thier own destiny which has then provided them with dreams and hopes. We all have a part to play in making our futures.

Empowering lives - the difference!

Some more India Prep :-)

Well this picture says it all......... Good night , Good company, Good food and Goodbyes (for a while only x)....... 

.....and in just six days (who says I am counting? ;-))  there will be New experiences, New friends to meet and New food to try.....

The layout of the trip now!

Phew.... Last items are about packed.... things have been in and out of my ruck sack........ my mind has been a constant chatter of "Do I need it?- What would I do without this? - Maybe a few less of this - Maybe a few more of those - Wheres that passport gone now? - there it is how did it get there? - How on earth can one small 60Lt ruck sack take about 2 hours of organising?!  But like I said its about ready to go..... Am I? Well the excitement is paramount at this stage............ A feeling of responsibility and nerves has eased into the mix...... But its LETS DO THIS!

I have had my trip layout provided read and re-read the details.

I will be flying from Heathrow on the 16th Feb into New Delhi. Getting on a train to Gwalior, spending a few days there. Back on the train and into Bhopal to spend another few days before flying back to New Delhi. Spending a little time here and then back home to my life in Wales.

I will be expected to meet with communities to find out what life is like without safe water and sanitation and visit the WaterAid projects in both urban slums and rural villages to see how the money raised by Welsh Water employees and customers is making a difference. India has a population of over one billion and diseases are common throughout the country due to contaminated drinking water sources and poor sanitation. WaterAid estimates that only 31% of the population has adequate sanitation and 320,000 children under five die every year as a result of this.

 **Sources: World Bank (2011) World Development Indicators database - databank.worldbank.org, WHO / UNICEF (2010) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report 2010, UNDP (2011), Human Development Report 2011)

As part of the trip, to the Madhya Pradesh region of India, I will have opportunity to spend time with a local family living without clean water and sanitation, learning first-hand about the challenges they face without access to these vital resources. I look forward to  meeting children from local schools, sit in on hygiene education sessions, take part in some construction work and learn how access to clean water and sanitation has helped transform people’s lives.

As a mother myself, I find it very sad and shocking that 2,000 children die every day from diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. Clean water is something we take for granted in the UK, but some people have no choice but to drink dirty water that could make them ill, or worse. I feel seeing the impact of  the awful truth in the field will be a hard fact to deal with emotionally!?

A Picture I took just today - under the Bridge - where water is plenty!

Nant Gwyllt Elan Valley

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is actively involved in a wide range of fundraising activities every year. In the past eight years staff have raised over £840,000. The company has also supported WaterAid through the annual customer appeal. Since it was launched in 1993, customers have given over £3.5 million – enough to help over 450,000 people gain access to safe, clean water and sanitation.

Last on the List

Right that is it... my last item sorted before my departing of this green and pleasant land....with a little bit of rain ;-).... I have been to the nurse today and received my malaria tablets. I was told there where currently issues in Bhopal so I was advised to get a prescription rather than over the counter tablets. I have my anti bug bracelets and net and spray all packed....... mosi avoidance all the way! 

It`s Getting Really Real Now!

OMG it is 2 weeks yesterday in which I will be flying out to India with the WaterAid team....... by this time now in two weeks I will have stepped off the plane and looked straight into the heart of my first Indian sunrise..... "I will be waking up with India"..... I love the sound of those words.

It seems so much more real this week..... there was an article printed in the local paper about the trip which I discovered when I went down for my lunch at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre - I was told all about my upcoming trip which was transmitted to me by visitors having seen the newspaper. A great part of my dinner was then spent chomping in between the telling of our regular visitors/friends all about what was planned for my upcoming trip to India. Later an errand into the local town of Rhayader for some equipment and tools saw me relaying my impending travels to the friendly faces I met and also receiving many good luck remarks along my way. With each and every well wish granted my tummy increasingly took a  flip of excitement - so you can imagine what state  it must be in now as a write this!

I had an e-mail from a work colleague this week who was fortunate to go on the WaterAid trip a few years back to wish me luck and some wise words of advice which were;- to keep a diary as there is so much going on your brain can become fuddled and to bring some small bottles of hand gel with me..... And I am feeling less guilty about picking up all that Imodium now too :-) I'm not alone with belly ache worries..... and on that matter I have received very much guidance and advice which I won`t offer up right now..... 

I am off to see the nurse this week to sort out the malaria tablets.....



The Elan Valley Visitor Centre located in front of Caban Coch Dam - with up to 200,000 Visitors a year who come to see the Dams and the scenic area in which they are set. Many stop by to visit the cafe, shop, exhibition and have ample opportunity to learn all about the Elan Valley. for more information - http://www.elanvalley.org.uk