Orthodox music is for the background waking up every morning in Ethiopia. Though when the morning starts with silence it is certain that besides the absence of music the day also starts without electricity. With the loss of electricity the water is also often gone but there are exceptions.
This gives waking up in silence an element of surprise. Every day that starts with music and water coming from the tap gives a reason to be cheerful. Buckets, in the bathroom have to be always filled with water so that it is possible to use the toilet when the water is gone.
Frequently the water is gone for three days in the best hotel in the city as well. If the bucket is empty its best to shout out when opening the door “oha yallem!” which translates “no water!” and hand the bucket to the hotel worker. Somewhere in the vicinity of the hotel there is a container from which a diligent worker hauls buckets of water to all the floors of the hotel.
A day that starts with silence and a bubbling tap is luxury. For the majority of Ethiopians washing is a luxury and it is the same with eating when feeling slightly hungry. This kind of real life where thousands of families are without water for washing is only a kilometer from our modest hotel. It has been four and a half months from the rain season. Within this time the water level has gone so low that the pumps in wells can no longer regularly pump up water. Lines with yellow water canisters are hundreds of meters long and the waiting time up to six hours. There is nothing to complain about because eventually everyone in the line gets their share. Buildings which are made out of clay and hay are just standing and waiting for the rainy season. It is obvious that there is not enough water for everyone for washing. Even the rivers are dry. So often many hours are spent walking to reach water necessary for cooking.
In the face of such a shortage the skills for managing the water supply are very poor. That is the reason we invited Daniel from America to the school. This young man who has moved to Ethiopia for two years as a volunteer has to manage with 80 Euros per month. His assignment is to run first aid courses and teach frugal handling of water and hygiene. Exemplary hand washing courses are run according to schools’ requests together with a lecture about infectious diseases and frugal management of water.
The local educational facilities are not showing particular initiative in this undertaking though because it is not profitable for anybody. Also payment is asked for running the courses. That is why Daniel’s voluntary activity was suitable for our children. Access to food and education for the economically underprivileged has helped to create a trusting relationship which brought a lot of kids to listen. It is possible to wash your hands for two days with a two litre bottle of water. Before lunch in school washing hands is under strict control.
We also visited the homes where there is not even enough water for drinking. This little lecture on one of the courtyards brought together the whole community. Daniel’s lecture about the use of water was like the Sermon on the Mount which attracted great attention in the surroundings.
MERLE
