“As part of the water projects, I work with the communities on capacity building, hand-pump and latrine operation and maintenance, and health and good hygiene practices. In these trainings we teach the community things like the importance of washing hands with soap, how to use the hygienic latrines, why they should cover food, and touch food only after washing hands.

It takes time to teach the communities these things so we have refresher trainings. But it changes peoples’ attitudes, raises awareness, and helps them become more capable.

In each slum, the situation has improved. Before, they were very much in crisis. The people were using polluted pond water and hanging latrines, and walking long distances for more than one hour to collect water. But they realized their need, and through education, day by day, the community is improving and putting what they’ve learned into practice. Now they are happy and sure of themselves; they see that they are capable.

As a woman leader, I feel empowered; other women in the community know now that they are also capable and can make decisions when they take out loans and take ownership of projects. Men usually are the leaders, but now the situation is improving in the community so if they were once resistant, now they support their wives and feel proud of their accomplishments."