Aquassistance a republié ceci
Back from #Mnane (Tanzania), a 4 000 inhabitants village in the Rift Valley around the 5th parallel south and 1 300 meters above sea level ! The #Singida Region suffers severe drought at the end of dry season (at least May to October). Women & children, traditionally in charge of water supply, look for rare water at any time and any place. Some families own cows and a tumbrel to go queueing in the surrounding villages and get some clear water. The other ones have to dig holes in the dry rivers and wait for a long time to get a grey water in poor security & hygienic conditions. Children arrive late at school after helping their mothers for water supply. Julie-Anne COHARD, Matthias Thomas & I have spent one week there looking for solutions to water issues in #Mnane. Living in the village, meeting the villagers & their representatives, walking everywhere, we have analysed their way of life, their access to water, their sanitation & waste management habits, available water resources, topography etc. The situation is hard, but there are tracks of hope to design, finance, build, manage, operate & maintain a suitable water network : simple, efficient, sustainable… I warmly thank Aquassistance, the SUEZ Group employees international solidarity organization, especially Carole Fortin, Delia MOULIN & Philippe FOLLIASSON, for organizing that mission and sending us to achieve those exciting & motivating aims. I also thank FONDATION SUEZ for supporting Aquassistance from the beginning and SUEZ' engagement dispositive which encourages its employees to get involved in solidarity actions. I thank all the wonderful persons which welcomed us in #Arusha, #Singida & #Mnane, the teams of the Catholic diocese of #Singida, especially : * Father #Patrick Myuku, great organizer with permanent smile & good mood. * Father #Francis Lyumi & his family, who hosted us in his own house in #Mnane, * BALTAZARI SUNGI and all the teams from Caritas * #Ezekiel Idd Saleh, #Mnane village chairperson, * #Freddy Nkosya from the Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (#RUWASA), * Tanzanian professionals who offered helping us and making some geophysical surveys on site, * ... and all the nice & smiling villagers who are full of hope & happiness despite their everydays difficulties. Volunteering on water supply in Africa changes us but consolidates some certitudes : * MAJI NI UHAI (in local swahili language) : water is life ! * Water engineering is highly critical for a sustainable development. #webelieveinourjobs ! * There is still A LOT to be done to give a proper access to water to world populations. Next steps ? * Go back to our everyday's jobs with a renewed heart. * Write our mission’s report overnight & at week-ends… * Elaborate a clever project for water in #Mnane. * Make it ! We are all looking forward to it !