Leap of faith: Women in Namahaca show their appreciation for the rehabilitated borehole through skipping and music at a gathering
A rehabilitated borehole and the promise of specially constructed latrines is cause for celebration in a Mozambican village
The women of Namahaca pull out the skipping rope and take turns to jump. Behind them an orchestra, playing drums and a metal bell, belt out a cheerful tune. The skipping speeds up in time with the music. The audience ululates, cheers and sings as each woman, mostly in long sarongs, does her own personal dance around the rope.
“People are happy in their own way,” says Alcidio Pangaia, ForAfrika’s provincial manager, thoughtfully.
The people of this community are happy because two boreholes in the village have recently been rehabilitated and soon families will receive concrete latrine blocks from Humedica and GFFO. They dance to show their appreciation.
They sing a song dedicated to the gift they have received.
A little later, Julieta Rafael Aissa is joined by others from the water committee to express their gratitude.
Clean water means better health
“We are so happy because of our boreholes,” she says. “Before we were fetching water from an unprotected well. The water from the pump is much safer.”
Firiminah Awisse concurs: “Before, we were facing a lot of stomach aches and diarrhoea, now we don’t have that many complaints. Some people, they have no soap, they cannot wash their hands… before they eat they do not wash their hands, we must wash hands with soap, it is very important.
“Before, we did not understand that much about handwashing and the importance of hygiene, but now we are more aware. This water must have a long life. We are so happy and healthy – you could see us dancing there!”
Maintenance
Tony Geraldo elaborates on the value of the water committee’s training: “It is very important to do maintenance on the boreholes. We have been taught to keep the borehole in good condition. It’s like a check-up at the doctor. You might not be sick, but you check before you land up in the hospital. We have to do the same with the borehole and check that it is working okay.”
The community has agreed to each contribute to a fund that will ensure the boreholes are well taken care of.
Each borehole has a fence around it to keep it protected. A long trough collects any overflow so that water is not wasted.
“We would like to say thank you very much,” says Luis Felix, the community’s chief since 1986. He has lived his whole life in Namahaca and has experienced many times without water.
“It is very difficult without clean water,” he says. “People get sick a lot when we have to get water from unprotected wells.
“We use the water for drinking, washing and watering. We also produce our own traditional beer and we boil the water to use for pest control. The water means a lot to us. “We are looking forward to getting the latrine blocks. We are ready to dig and get the bamboo for shelters.”
