TPRF Real Stories

After the earthquake in Japan, TPRF funded a vegetable gardening project organized by its partner, AmeriCares.  This first-hand report from Ramona Bajema, Senior Program Manager/Japan, describes the project and the health and well-being effects it had on a group of evacuees relocated to temporary housing after the quake.

Date of event: Monday, December 3, 2012

Where: Mobiria Temporary Housing Community in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan

What: Cabbage harvest and pickling party with more than 25 residents in attendance

An hour before the event started, almost 20 Mobiria residents gathered to harvest cabbage and make tsukemono (pickled vegetables). Women who had participated in the garden project from the beginning attended as well as new members.

The scene at the community center was full of activity and fun. Some residents, including one 98 year-old woman, stood behind a truck and peeled a pot of garlic to put into the tsukemono. Others debated the pros and cons of adding daikon leaves to the mixture. They decided to go ahead and add the leaves to avoid waste and to add a special flavor. The daikon leaves had been left out to dry for several days to make them ready to be covered in the large pickling pots. The project staff used tsukemono “stones” (normally used to weigh down the vegetables while they are pickling) to do arm exercises, garnering tons of laughter.

I recognized one of the new garden project members as someone I met in October while she was taking a stroll by the garden. Another staff member and I had encouraged her to join the group. I was very glad to see her at the cabbage event.

It had snowed the day before, but the weather on December 3rd was gorgeous. Several women noted that there was not a cloud in the sky. A bright blue expanse covered all of Hirota Bay and what remained of Rikuzentakata city after the earthquake.

The group trekked back up the hillside to the site of the vegetable garden to harvest more cabbage and a kind of “potato” that is eaten raw and tastes like an apple.  By now, all the snow on the cabbage had melted away. Group members also harvested carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. They pulled out dead eggplants.

When the group drove to the bottom of the hill again, staff members divided the harvest into bags for everyone to take home.

The pickling adventure carried on. Everyone hoped that the tsukemono would be ready in time for O-Shogatsu, the New Year’s tradition celebrated at home with family. Food is the center point of the New Year’s celebration.  Pickled vegetables are an important part of the meal. Members prepare the vegetables days in advance so that no one has to cook during the New Year’s holiday. While the group would be living in temporary housing again this year, they would at least eat vegetables that they had grown and harvested themselves.

With the pickling preparation over and clean up done, we all went inside the community center. Some of the staff members made amazing cabbage with soy sauce for the group to snack on. The group also ate mikan, Japanese tangerines that are a common winter snack. At most community service gatherings, the staff served salty or sweet snacks to go with the tea. On this day, however, the emphasis was on fruit and vegetables from the garden.

I have observed many of these gatherings of elderly women having tea in the community center. On this day, they all joked and talked in a lively way about their pickling activity.  It was a spirited group engaged in conversation rather than a few silent participants. One woman mentioned they had become a special kind of “Mobiria tribe,” which made everyone laugh. They were proud to share the harvest from their garden. Their cheeks were fresh and pink from being outside and their spirits were certainly much brighter.

One woman, who usually attends to her small grandson, was present at the gathering. She often came to the gatherings, but rarely participated. She merely sat and drank tea. On this occasion, she was one of the pickling leaders who cut the daikon, placed the leaves in buckets, and explained to new members how the daikon grew. She appeared completely different from other events, thanks to her role as one of the leaders in the garden group. Whereas she had had a difficult time walking around Mobiria in the previous year, she seemed spry and very genki (in a good state and mood.) It was a delight to watch her and remember how she had been just a short time before.

Photos courtesy of AmeriCares/Ramona Bajerna

I can honestly say that writing and editing the TPRF blog for the past 18 months has been an exciting, enjoyable, and unpredictable journey.We began with a mandate to cover the developing story of the third Food for People facility planned for construction in the small village of Otinibi, outside of the metropolitan city of Accra in Ghana, West Africa.  I had very little experience with social media, a slight familiarity with TPRF’s proprietary Food for People program, and no background information on the country or people of Ghana.

Somehow, these obvious drawbacks did not inhibit the expansion of the TPRF blog from a single story into an international forum reflecting stories of enormous hope through efficient and inspired humanitarian initiatives undertaken by TPRF and its partner organizations around the world.

Otinibi FFP Before Grand Opening

Our first posts covered the Ghana Food for People projectin detail beginning when the facility was an undeveloped piece of land awaiting governmental approval of the documents transferring title of ownership to the local charity set up to manage and run the FFP.  We have literally watched the facility rise up out of the ground, culminating in a triumphant opening one year later.  The FFP in Otinibi has materialized thanks to the dedication of mostly local volunteers, an expert construction team, funding from TPRF, and donations from individuals following the story on the Internet.

Five hundred children and adults will be fed nutritious meals every day in Otinibi. The same thing happens at two other Food for People centers which opened in 2006 and 2009.

The logistics and effort required to establish and keep the FFP facilities operating boggles the mind. Yet it is happening.  It is a privilege and a joy to make these stories about people who benefit from the Food for People program and the individuals who volunteer to make these daily miracles occur available to our readers.

Six months after our first post, we decided to open up the scope of the blog to other feature stories while still reporting on the progress of the project in Ghana. We covered the other two Food for People facilities located in the villages of Bantoli, India and Tasarpu, Nepal. I began to see the profound effect the program has on the people it touches.

Now, children go to school instead of doing manual labor (like crushing rocks to support their families.)  The nutritious daily meals allow the children to grow and develop normally. Plus, they learn proper sanitation habits and enjoy watching educational television programs while eating.

With healthy bodies and the opportunity to learn in school, these children have a vastly improved chance to realize their dreams later in life.  And something more.  I have seen through these stories that Food for People is an oasis for these children, a place where they can flourish and enjoy their precious childhood.

The Food for People program is only one example of TPRF’s life-changing work.  We regularly cover stories about  TPRF’s Peace Education Program in prisons, independent fundraising efforts, disaster relief, clean drinking water initiatives, and other humanitarian efforts undertaken by TPRF’s carefully-selected partner organizations.

Relieving Drought in Ethiopia With Partner IRD

The voice of the TPRF blog that we searched for in the beginning has become the many voices of hope and positive change as stories continue to stream in from around the world.

As Prem Rawat’s message of peace continues to reach more people, we hope to keep pace by allowing more voices to tell their stories spontaneously in an even greater diversity.

The new blog will present stories from regular contributors, expressions from blog subscribers, people involved in the work of TPRF, and others involved in independent humanitarian efforts. In time, regular contributors and TPRF partners will be able to post directly to the new blog template as stories break.

Photos Courtesy of IRD and Premsagar Nepal

Supporting Education in Nepal

2012 marks the second consecutive year TPRF has partnered with The Adventure Project (TAP) to raise funds for their excellent water well mechanic training program. The program creates new jobs and re-establishes access to clean water in areas where water wells are broken. Becky Straw is a “clean water activist” and co-founder of The Adventure Project.  This is her World Water Day contribution to our blog, reporting on the success of TAP’s partnership with TPRF in 2011.

Last year, something remarkable happened. Four days before World Water Day, my new nonprofit, The Adventure Project, asked The Prem Rawat Foundation a last-minute, crazy question: “Would TPRF match what we raise in 24 hours?” Without hesitation, TPRF jumped on board, and turned March 22 into one of the best days of the year.

Over 150 people joined us in spreading our message on World Water Day, and over 400 people generously donated to match TPRF’s grant. Collectively, we raised over $23,000 for a revolutionary water program in India, implemented by WaterAid, in partnership with a local NGO, Gram Swaraj Samiti Ghosi (GSSG). This program trains and empowers local leaders to become well mechanics, fixing broken wells in their communities.

One year later, I am proud to report that WaterAid has successfully established two well mechanic shops in the Kako and Ghosi blocks in the Jehanabad district of Bihar. As of February 29, 12 new mechanics have repaired 85 hand pumps, restoring access to clean water for 12,386 people in need!

The two shops in Kako and Ghosi are thriving, serving a total of 10 communities. The shops are equipped with water quality test kits, tools and spare parts necessary for repair work, as well as a cell phone to receive repair requests and a motorcycle for transport to the repair sites. This is an innovative and enterprising way to ensure rural communities have access to sustainable water services.

Twelve mechanics have been trained in hand pump repair, pipeline fitting, and use of GPS technology. The mechanics provide an additional benefit in educating communities about maintaining their hand pumps to prevent breakdown, by establishing volunteer village water and sanitation committees.

The twelve mechanics are committed to rapid response times, with a goal to fully repair hand pumps within 24 hours of receiving the request, when possible. Of the repairs conducted to date, 54% have been completed in less than 12 hours, 91% in less than 24 hours, and only 9% between 24 and 48 hours after receiving the request (these are often major repairs requiring extensive labor or spare parts.) Furthermore, in the past three months alone, the shops have averaged 27 repairs per month. Of the total fee the community pays, 60% of the repair charge goes to the mechanics for their labor and 40% goes to the center to cover operating costs.

Water issues have always been close to my heart. I have spent the last five years of my career focused on evaluating water programs in developing countries. It always pains me to see so many broken wells throughout Africa and India, watching in dismay as mothers and children walk past broken wells to collect water from dirty rivers. The Gates Foundation estimates one third of all wells are currently broken, often because there are no spare parts or trained mechanics.

This partnership with The Prem Rawat Foundation gave us hope that there are organizations and citizens who believe in enterprising solutions to ending the water crisis. I cannot thank TPRF enough for all their support, inspiration and shared belief in investing with dignity.

Thank you,

Becky Straw

Co-Founder & Chief Adventurist | The Adventure Project

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Photos by Esther Havens

During their February 2012 vacation in Southeast Asia, David and Debby Horsford are combining sightseeing with visits to areas where TPRF is helping people through its various partners. Debby is writing a diary and David is taking photos and videos of their journey.  While in Cambodia, the couple witnessed the transforming work of TPRF grantee the Cambodian Children’s Fund.

Patrick, a wonderful fellow who has moved from Scotland to Cambodia to work with the Cambodian Children’s Fund, picks us up at our hotel in the morning. He is a self-proclaimed introvert, buttoned up, non-smiling, ex-military man. Or so he says. It is difficult to imagine the picture he paints of himself. In this country, adoring swarms of children greet Patrick, and he is putty in their presence.

He takes us on a tour of six facilities. It is important to understand that the children here are not orphans. A few are, of course, but most have families or at least one living parent. The children we visit are from the families of people who were living around the dump outside of Phnom Penh. They are resourceful and industrious people. For example, a truck would pull into the dump to unload trash and they would dig through it to find food or materials they could salvage or sell. They are not apathetic or disempowered.

Nearly 700 children strong, CCF is thriving. The city dump is closed. A few children live on campus full time, some live on campus during the week and return to their families on the weekend, and the remainder live at home and attend school daily. TPRF has given grant money to provide nutritious meals for the most marginal of these children and their families. It is a joy to watch them at mealtimes. The breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served at all six facilities rotate by age groups.

We observe from the back of an open-air classroom the teacher announcing our arrival. Children, perhaps five years old, stand and sing a song they have memorized for class. They are learning to speak, read, and write English to best prepare them for the future. It is soon time for lunch, and the students are heading to the outdoor sink to wash their hands. Each child receives a generous portion of rice, broth, vegetables, and meat or fish. Patrick says they are growing like bamboo shoots. Most of the children arrive at CCF very stunted in height for their age with many health issues. They sit together at communal tables enjoying one another’s company instead of having to fight over food. The children have formed relationships of trust with one another. Their smiles and laughter are proof.

The benefit of nutritious food has surprised even the staff here. Over time, the children continue growing stronger and taller. As their immune systems improve, they are able to fight off common bacteria and viruses. The teachers say even their capacity to concentrate and study has increased. The children of all ages here share a common denominator. In the older children, we sense the appreciation of the incredible opportunity they have been given. They are enthusiastic about following their dreams of becoming teachers, nurses, and doctors. They are determined to go wherever their aspirations take them. I am convinced these children will become the face of change and betterment in Cambodia’s future.

Sovann (L) and Jorani

Jorani, a flourishing fourteen year old, has made it through a childhood that would be inconceivable to most of us in the West.  She comes to us and drags us over to see pictures on the wall of her accomplishments.  She is a straight-A student and loves science best of all.  Jorani’s friend, Sovann, shows us pictures of a dance production he was in last year in Chiang Mai.  He is now able to pursue his studies and his passion.  The enthusiasm of these two friends is contagious.  It is incredible to see what a small amount of assistance can do to bring dignity and confidence to a human being.

Photos by CCF and David Horsford

During their vacation in Southeast Asia, David and Debby Horsford are combining sightseeing with visits to areas where TPRF is helping people through its various partners. Debby is writing a diary and David is taking photos and videos of their journey. In February, the Horsford’s visited an ear clinic in Cambodia. With grants from TPRF, the clinic dug clean water wells. Debby writes:

February in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is one of the coolest, driest months of the year. Yet for us, stepping off the airplane was like stepping into an outdoor sauna. Rush hour traffic clogged the streets with tuk tuks, motorbikes, cars, and trucks. We arrive at our hotel relieved to be in air conditioning and spend the remainder of the evening confirming our appointments with the three non-government agencies we will be visiting this week.

Glyn Vaughan (R) With David Horsford

Our first visit is with Glyn Vaughan, founder and director of All Ears Cambodia (AEC). TPRF granted funds to AEC to dig clean wells in two of the poorest provinces in Cambodia where Glyn’s clinics are located. He is an amazing English doctor who began volunteering his services during his holidays in Southeast Asia. But as he became more aware of the acute need for ear care among poor people, and especially children throughout Cambodia, he left everything in England behind to begin clinics here. Now, seven years later, he has trained eight audiologists to serve the community.

The three facilities AEC operates, two in the rural countryside of Cambodia and one in Phnom Penh, are shining examples of the organization’s ear care work. With very little money, these audiologists have created an environment of calm and beauty to reassure their anxious young patients. A curving line of small Buddha statues in the waiting room resembles the children waiting their turn. Wonderful posters of friendly animals, teaching the children about ear health adorn the walls. The technicians are gentle, caring professionals. The children we see today are all HIV positive, living in an orphanage.

Especially in the rural villages, where clean drinking water is not available, the new wells TPRF has funded provide a service not only to the clinics but to the whole community. One 10-year-old girl walked 15 miles with her baby brother on her back to the AEC clinic. Audiologists treated the little boy’s ear infection with antibiotics and further check-ups were performed.

Statistics show that 60-65% of the children living in these rural areas suffer hearing loss. Glyn says much of this is due to the lack of clean water and the hygienic benefits of clean water. His goal is the prevention of hearing loss in young children. The little girl who brings her baby brother to the clinic helps him grow up to have a purposeful life.

Poor children and adults with hearing loss in Cambodia, whose lives are very difficult, are further marginalized as they are forced to do the most menial work and are not given any education.

Glyn stressed over and over again the value of TPRF’s role in providing clean water. His model of training ear health technicians and setting up clinics is working beautifully. But in order to continue this work in the more extremely impoverished areas of Cambodia, clean water is essential.

Photos by David Horsford

During their vacation in Southeast Asia, David and Debby Horsford are combining sightseeing with visits to areas where TPRF is helping people through its various partners.  Debby is writing a dairy and David takes photos and videos of their journey.  This is the first article in a series featuring the humanitarian work of TPRF grantee and partner, the Sao Sary Foundation.

The Sao Sary Foundation is located in the Kampong Speu Province of Cambodia, about a two hour drive from the capital, Phnom Penh. This mountainous area rarely gets enough rainfall to provide drinking water, let alone enough to grow crops and raise animals.

Sao Sary, a government worker from the province, was tragically murdered for the humanitarian work he undertook to help villagers in this area. Sao’s son, Vichetr Uon, created the foundation to continue his father’s work. The enemies Vichetr deals with are loan sharks and prostitution groups who prey upon the innocent people in these impoverished villages.

TPRF has partnered with the Sao Sary Foundation to build clean water wells in an organized effort to bring dignity and self-sufficiency to these extremely marginalized Cambodians.

Most children in this province receive a poor quality of education and are forced to give up school completely by the time they are 13 years old. Many parents force their daughters to forge their documents, saying they are women of working age, in order to work in garment factories and provide financial support for their families.

The older women left in the village care for the children and are given the task of traveling long distances to buy water. They are often charged unfairly for the drinking water they buy. Most of the men and older boys are forced to work on fishing boats in Thailand, where they are exploited and often forced to work without pay.

The day we arrive, a work crew is here with equipment to drill more than 30 meters through solid rock to reach water. The cost of this operation is high because it requires many attempts to find water and there is always equipment breakage.

TPRF has provided water filtration systems so that the water gathered in the nearby pond can be cleaned. Until recently, this pond was the only source of water the villagers had, and  it dries up months before the rainy season begins.

As many villagers gather to watch the drilling of the well, Vichetr calls a village meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to ask them questions and, of course, for them to ask us questions. A woman’s face lights up as she hears the translation after David asks if the clean water has made a difference in the villagers’ lives. In unison, they all chant, “Yes.”

Sanitation conditions are so improved, and with the new well going in, the people here are hopeful for even bigger changes. Time and money will no longer be wasted traveling long distances to buy water.

The villagers are eager to use the well water to start irrigating their land to grow vegetables that they can eat and perhaps even sell in the market.

There is one grandmother here who is raising five grandchildren. The mother died and the father, unable to support the family in any way, abandoned the children. The grandmother is pictured with short, cropped hair. The three daughters are in the photos also, with brightly colored skirts given to them by a Vietnamese doctor. The children hold out their skirts proudly to show us.

They now have clean drinking water, recently in unknown luxury.  With the well, they have a way to begin to grow vegetables,  raise animals, and become self-sufficient. No longer having to borrow money to buy rice, the family will be free of loan sharks.

The grandmother sees that her grandchildren will have an opportunity to stay in school and end the cycle of poverty that has trapped families in this area for untold generations.

Photos by David Horsford

Peter Novick, a retired Software Engineer, is the volunteer grants team manager for TPRF. As the team’s manager, Novick reports on humanitarian aid grants and provides information about grant  procedures and accountability.

In addition to his other duties, Novick helps keep the grant program aligned with TPRF’s strategic objectives while overseeing and coordinating the work of grant reviewers and grant managers.

TPRF: How did you become interested in volunteering for the grants team?

PN: I’ve been moving in this direction for a while—involved with foundations, non-profit organizations, and philanthropy for many years. I started a small family foundation about 14 years ago, and I’ve been active in that ever since. I have helped a few non-profits get off the ground, and I’m on the board of a private school. A friend who served as TPRF grants manager and who knew my background invited me to serve as a grant reviewer. So that’s how I first got involved with the grants team.

TPRF: What criteria does TPRF use to select partners?

PN: We have a comprehensive form that our grant reviewers use to evaluate the organization and its grant application. We are continually seeking ways to expand and fine-tune the criteria, based on TPRF strategic goals, our working experience, and professional development.

Here are a few criteria. First, a grant application for aid must match one of our funding priorities—nutritious food, clean water, and eye care to prevent blindness.

We research the organization quite thoroughly, looking for evidence of stability, expertise, good reputation, solid partnerships, and the potential for an ongoing partnership with TPRF. Additional criteria include, but are not limited to, financial management, including low overhead, creativity, and integrity.

One of the most important criteria our reviewers examine is impact. For the amount of funds requested, we look at how many people will be helped, in what ways, and for how long.

There is so much more, but I think this gives you a good idea of the process.

Daily Meal Program for Yucatan Children

TPRF: What are some of the reasons for TPRF’s success in delivering life-changing aid in a cost effective manner?

PN: It starts from the top. TPRF is an environment that values and promotes integrity, teamwork, compassion, creativity, quality, accountability, and making your best effort.

TPRF: How has your involvement with the grants team affected you personally?

PN: It is a transforming experience. Engaging in very challenging work; collaborating with other dedicated, wise and inspiring people; making the world a better place; helping to spread a message of peace—everything about it has been good.

Saving and Enhancing Lives

TPRF’s ongoing financial support of the Cambodian Children’s Fund has helped to extend vital, life-saving services to an additional 101 Children through the CCF Daycare Program. This report from CCF focuses on one shining example of the program’s success.

Dear Members of The Prem Rawat Foundation:

The children enrolled in CCF’s Daycare need enough calories to fuel their active play and their various stages of growth. Each day these little ones receive daily breakfasts and midday meals prepared with fresh, locally purchased ingredients. Children also have mid‐afternoon snacks and receive daily supplements to help correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies. None of this would be possible without the generous support organizations like The Prem Rawat Foundation.

The nutrition program has become such a success that CCF has been able to extend care to include 101 little ones. Srey Lin’s story is one example of this success.

Srey Lin

Srey Lin was one year old when she first joined CCF. When she arrived, malnutrition had stunted her growth. The sixth child in a destitute family, Srey Lin suffered from dyspigmentation. This condition tinged her sparse hair a reddish‐orange color due to deficiencies in protein, zinc and iron. Childcare and medical staff worried that her lethargy indicated impaired mental functioning.

Within three short months of her enrollment at CCF, Srey Lin was thriving—physically gaining height and weight, and cognitively becoming focused and active. She has emerged as a sunny and gregarious little individual who runs laughing to greet visitors – and who is renowned for her appetite for second and even third helpings of her three daily meals.

CCF continues to see transformations just like Srey Lin’s. Poor families who were unable to provide basic nutrition to their children are proudly watching as their children grow into healthy and happy individuals who are filling their bellies with nutritious meals and their minds with education—essential ingredients to alleviating poverty.

The Prem Rawat Foundation has made all of these successes possible, by providing nutrition and enriching the lives of 101 little treasures. Thank you for this generous gift.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Huff

Director of Development & US Operations/Cambodian Children’s Fund

Srey Lin With Other Children in CCF Daycare

Last week, we began to explore how TPRF became involved in Social Media. This week, the journey continues with Steve Kowarsky’s account of how Social Media is expanding public awareness of TPRF’s work and its message of “Dignity, Peace, and Prosperity.”

Steve is an accomplished software and telecommunications executive who lives in Long Island, New York. He is a member of TPRF’s nine-person management team consisting of six volunteer and three paid positions. Steve’s focus is managing TPRF’s Social Media presence.

The America’s Giving Challenge that launched TPRF into social networking occurred at the end of 2009. What has happened since?

SK: The most remarkable thing was the viral growth of our flagship Cause named “TPRF: Food for People.” When the contest ended, we had recruited about 4,200 new members, and we thought that was pretty good. But the growth continued, and a few months later, it skyrocketed. We now have almost half a million members in that Cause! And the total of contributions raised via Social Media is over $430,000.

I can’t help thinking that with half a million members, if each one contributed just $10, TPRF could raise $5 million.

SK: That’s what I thought, and that’s what many people think about when they first look at this. But to join a Cause on Facebook is just a one-click commitment, and I now understand that contributing money is a very big step from there. Still, this gives TPRF the ability to communicate with a lot of people, both via email and via their Facebook News Feeds. I’m certain there are people who have engaged with TPRF via this outreach. You never know. Any single person can make a real difference at any time, and even the simple, growing, positive awareness created via TPRF’s communication stream can have a helpful impact on the overall picture.

Also, with this kind of track record and reach, TPRF is an attractive partner for other organizations, and we’re beginning to see this happening. We just conducted a successful joint campaign on Causes with Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is much larger than TPRF, but they wanted to be associated with our Social Media success. And recently a company named SocialVest started a campaign on Causes called Help SocialVest give $10,000 to TPRF. That’s pretty cool. For each person who joins SocialVest (which is free and creates no obligation) TPRF gets one dollar!

What’s happening outside of Causes on Facebook and Twitter?

SK: TPRF’s Facebook presence is growing steadily. There are now three TPRF Pages, in English, Spanish, and Italian, with a total of almost 13,000 “fans” from all over the world.

Twitter so far is on a smaller scale, but we are putting energy into Twitter, and it is growing steadily with over 400 followers. Twitter is a smaller phenomenon than Facebook, but I still think it could be a very useful part of the mix.

Our Twitter Manager is a young man who lives in New Delhi, and he’s doing a wonderful job. Our Italian Page manager is a doctor. I don’t know how he finds the time, but he’s incredibly responsive. It’s very cool to be working with a global team and with people of this caliber.

Can you share a little bit of your personal experience of this activity with us?

SK: The Social Media area is a good fit for me, because it’s an evolving and unpredictable environment. Everyone involved is learning all the time. The rules change often, and unexpected new opportunities come up regularly. You can plan, but you also have to be flexible, responsive, and creative. I like that real-time response feeling, and I love the way the whole TPRF team recognizes when rapid response is needed and comes through.

Recently, TPRF made a grant of $25,000 to the International  Relief and Development Organization (IRD) to support an emergency effort to supply clean drinking water to 24,000 villagers in Ethiopia. The grant to IRD is one of three TPRF has made to organizations working to help East Africans survive the worst drought in sixty years.

This week, we are fortunate to have Scott Webb’s on-the-ground report of the situation in two villages where IRD is working to supply clean water to some of the most vulnerable people in the region bordering on Somalia.

Scott Webb is IRD’s Program Officer for Relief and Humanitarian Assistance.

On September 1, I visited seven Kebeles, or villages, throughout the Dollo Ado and Dollo Bay Woredas, or counties. The local Woreda administrations indicated that these villages were some of the most vulnerable and in urgent need of water.

No Rain Produces Arid Conditions

Dollo Ado and Dollo Bay (pronounced like “bye”) are in the southern Somali state of Ethiopia along the southern border region where Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia meet, and the people are all Somali. Most of the Somali refugees from the Somalia side of the border live in four different UNHCR-administered refugee camps in and around Dollo Ado, which has become the base of operations for all international NGO’s serving refugees in southern Ethiopia.

Dollo Ado is therefore a bustling, booming town, with NGO workers buzzing around monitoring and catering to the refugees, and enterprising Somali businessmen selling everything to the NGO’s from building materials, vehicle fuel, and bottled water to cell phone cards and espresso.

While refugees come to Ethiopia with their own heartbreaking stories of malnutrition and violence from Al-Shabaab-controlled Somalia, the surrounding host communities of southern Ethiopia are in the midst of a crippling drought. The region has barely received any rains in two years.

The Somali people are pastoralists. Their livelihood depends entirely on their animals.  Somali families live in sedentary villages near usually consistent water sources, and the men and boys herd sheep, goats, and cattle around the region in search of grass and water. The villagers subsist on milk and purchase their food by selling various animal products such as milk, hides, and meat.

This lifestyle depends 100 percent on the rains. A mere 200 to 400 millimeters of rain per year can support hundreds of thousands of villagers, replenishing grasslands and the leaves on trees, filling up watering holes, and maintaining the water table.

Villagers use various coping mechanisms to deal with the scarce rainfall. One of the most effective methods involves digging wells by hand and constructing burkits, which look similar to in-ground cement pools with roofs. In the intense rainstorms that normally occur, water rushes into the burkits and can be safely stored for several months until the traditional water sources dry out.

The Burkit at Bangol

Each village has a water committee comprised of select members of the community (including women) who help maintain equitable and fair water access for the community. In the villages we visited, notably Bangol, the burkits had just dried out, within 48 hours of our visit.

Thanks to generous support from The Prem Rawat Foundation and other donors, IRD is able to help the people of Bangol and 15 other communities in the region. Immediately after visiting the region, Abdulahi Muse and I negotiated a temporary water-trucking contract with Egal Mohammed, a local water-trucking company. Water was delivered to the target villages starting that very day. By September 7, all villages, including Bangol, had received 5,000 liter water tanks, hundreds of extra jerry cans, and daily deliveries of clean water.

Photos by Scott Webb, IRD

IRD Emergency Relief Coordinator Listens to Bangol Villagers