In rural Nepal amid snowcapped
peaks, Dolma Lama lives in a village where getting access to clean water used
to be a daily challenge. Rough mountain terrain made for a treacherous journey
through dense forest or down steep cliffs to simply fill a bucket with water
that may or may not have been suitable for drinking.
A few years ago, Dolma’s
community of just over 300 people shared one water tap, but that was destroyed after
a devastating earthquake in 2015. Dolma remembers how, at that time, people
fought over any water they could find. She confesses to stealing water from her
neighbor.
Since then, CRS and Caritas Nepal
have been working with the government of Nepal to assist earthquake-affected
families in Northern Gorkha and neighboring districts to achieve a safe and
dignified life while increasing their ability to mitigate the impact of future
disasters.
As part of this work, CRS brought
clean water directly into villages like the one where Dolma lives. The project involved
directing water to a large tank that now feeds 11 public taps. Community
members no longer need to wake up early, risk injury or stand in long lines
with empty buckets to get water.
At present, this work has
benefited more than 433 families in Northern Gorkha. With 61 taps installed
within community reach and four tanks reserving more than 8,000 gallons, people
now have access to clean drinking water.
To ensure sustainability, every
water source built in Northern Gorkha has a user group committee that takes full
responsibility for proper functioning of the tanks and taps. They follow a
clear maintenance plan and have allocated resources from the community and the
government of Nepal to ensure regular maintenance and repair.
“CRS water taps have made things
very easy for the community,” says Dolma. “We no longer have to steal water for
drinking.
Sunita, 16, was supported with a bicycle by World Vision International (WVI) Nepal, which has helped her reach school on time and improve her studies.
Bijay from Birtadeurali, Kavre started carrying water when he was 11 years old. The nearest water source, which was 10 minutes away, dried up after th...
Proper management of healthcare waste is vital since infectious materials present in the waste can infect healthcare workers, patients and HCF staff.