Women's Earth Alliance : Inyene Jeremiah Okon and Idongesit Anthony Umoh: River State, Nigeria

WEA Voices

Inyene Jeremiah Okon and Idongesit Anthony Umoh: River State, Nigeria

Inyene and Idongesit attended a GWWI Women and Water Training in February 2010, where they learned how to build rainwater harvesting systems and gained the skills necessary to bring clean water education (WASH) back to their community.

Situation Before: Women in Obumeze need water for their cassava processing businesses, yet the technology currently used by the members of the community to collect rainwater is ineffective.

Vision for Change: Inyene and Idongesit plan to construct a rainwater harvesting system at the site of the Widow’s Cassava Processing Mill in order to provide safe and reliable water access to not only the 35 women running the mill and the 1,200 farmers in the Obumeze community, but also to the 78 pupils in the school nearby the mill. The project consists of the construction of a base and a 1500 liter rainwater catchment polytank. In conjunction with the construction of the tank, Inyene and Indogesit will also facilitate a training session on WASH sanitation for the Obumeze women. The regular access to clean water provided by the tank will reduce stress for the women in the mill as well as for the pupils in the school. Access to clean water will lower the rate of cholera in the community, as well as promote business growth and community development.

"I have been to many meetings in my twenty years in this field. I am tired of all the talk shows. I’m ready to be a part of something that is staying around. This network is about support and action. This network is about real change. Sizani Ngubane, Rural Women’s Movement (Pietermaritzburg South Africa)"

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