Out from the depths

"The water at the bottom of the pits was always filthy as there was cow dung everywhere. We knew it was bad but there was no choice but to drink it."

Credit: WaterAid / Alex Macro

Nakwetikya lives in Ndedo village in the Kiteto region of Tanzania. She, like the other women in the area, used to have to collect the scarce water available from the bottom of deep and dangerous hand-dug pits. But, life is different now.

The community worked with WaterAid and in 2001 finished their borehole which now supplies them with safe, clean water. Here Nakwetikya describes the differences that the project has made to her life.

Nakwetikya lives in Ndedo village in the Kiteto region of Tanzania. Her status has been raised since WaterAid dug a borehole to provide the villagers with water.

Credit: WaterAid / Alex Macro

"I have lived in Ndedo village since I was born. The situation here used to be so bleak. There was only one shop and food was extremely scarce. Worse than that, there was no water and so we had to dig pits to try and find some," she explains. "Each year the pits would dry up and we'd have to dig deeper and deeper to find water.

It got very dangerous as we had to climb down the deep holes to reach the water at the bottom. Women would often fall in and injure themselves badly or even die. The animals would also be brought to the pits for water and men would often get pushed in by their cows.

I remember in this village when two young children fell in and died. It was a tragedy for us all. There was also one big accident when eight people were crushed by the rocks when the pit collapsed on them.

One of these women was my sister, Rapanja. She was only 30 years old when she died and she had four young children. I took care of them until they grew up.

The water at the bottom of the pits was always filthy as there was cow dung everywhere. We knew it was bad but there was no choice but to drink it.

Every year there would be an outbreak of cholera. People would have diarrhoea all over the place, including near the wells which meant their faeces would also end up in the water.

The whole village would be sick at one time. I can't begin to count the number of deaths caused by these illnesses. Children died like goats … so many, all the time. I had nine children but three have died from diarrhoea and vomiting.

When I heard the news that we were going to get clean water I remember laughing, it was so funny to me. I can only compare it to someone who is in a prison for a long time with no freedom. When they are set free it's the most fantastic experience.

I felt like I'd had a huge burden lifted from me and that I was let out into the light from a dark tunnel. I'm too old to crawl down those pits now to get water, and luckily all I have to do is turn on the tap!

Can you try and imagine what it was like? My legs used to shake with fear before climbing down those holes. I'd have to put myself through this every day, there was no choice.

If I didn't go to get water my family couldn't eat or wash or even have a drink. I used to have terrible muscle aches from rheumatism but in the past year, since we have the tapstand, they have eased considerably.

I really want to thank all the people in the UK who helped us. We count ourselves as people whom God was keeping an eye on.

Since we have had the new water source life has changed in so many amazing ways. My status as a woman has now been finally recognised. I have the time to look after my grandchild and we can keep our husbands and children happier now too as we have more time and energy.

We are more important to the men now as they have been able to see the benefits to their lives of women who are happy and healthy. We look after the home much more and keep the family happy. We even have time to help looking after the cattle.

Three years ago, before we formed a committee and prepared ourselves as a community for the water source, men just saw women as animals. I think they thought of us as bats flapping about around them.

They had no respect for us and no one would allow you to speak or listen to what you had to say. When I stand up now in a group meeting I am not an animal. I am a woman with a valid opinion. We have been encouraged and trained and the whole community has learned to understand us.

Oh, when I think back to how we used to feel it was terrible. I was treated like a donkey only fit to carry baggage all the time. Or a scrap of paper … just rubbish in the wind.

I can assure you though, that if you come back to visit us in the next few years you will see that women will be the leaders in this village. That will bring so many benefits to everyone!"

Find out more about our work in Tanzania