Diarrhea, easily treated in settings other than rural Mindanao, is among the top 5 causes of illness across the rugged island.
Indigenous families on Mindanao live in remote communities in the mountains and forests. A chronic lack of basic services, such as clean water, make life incredibly challenging for everyone in these communities. In addition, indigenous families are marginalized, making it even more challenging for them to improve their lives.
HOPE International Development Agency is helping indigenous families by addressing the root cause of much of their struggle with poverty; a lack of easily accessible clean water.
Gravity-fed water systems, simple to construct and maintain, are being installed by communities with assistance from our local partners in Mindanao. These systems are a proven and effective method of bringing clean water from uncontaminated sources, such as underground springs, to central watering stations in communities.
Community members participate in the design and construction of each system, taking ownership of the resource. Each community nominates a committee to oversee the use of the clean water and manages the maintenance of the system. Each committee member is trained in water system management and maintenance, ensuring the sustainability of the system.
Beyond the positive health benefits made available by having clean water easily available, indigenous families are able to chart a new course for their communities when they have clean water. For children, having clean water in their communities means that they are no longer chronically ill and the time they used to spend helping gather water can now be spent in school. Clean water, when available in community schools, protects the health of students and teachers alike.
For indigenous families in Mindanao, clean water is the starting point for a journey out the poverty that has held them captive for decades.
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| Constructing a portion of a water system that will bring clean water to families. |
