posted 4 years ago
I work to assist communities get better water supplies
I was told a story recently of a situation in Afghanistan whereby the local well built by foreign groups was continually blown up, causing the water collectors to walk a long distance to get water.
The water gatherers always seem to be women.
The well was continually repaired by the foreign forces, until one day it was explained to a female reporter who attended a repair day, by the village women that they were blowing up the well, so they could get together for a chat.
The new well had removed that opportunity.
Apparently they collected an unexploded bomb, dropped it down the well and dropped stones down until it blew up.
The well was no longer repaired and that suited everybody!!
I have worked with groups that have made this sort of mistake, and I learnt from this story that perhaps more discussion with the potential users would be a good idea.
Perhaps a woman, would have learnt this fact and had the well built just outside the village, so the gathering could continue without a longer walk.
In some cases its nothing to walk 5kms for water.
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