World Water Day

 In honor of World Water Day on March 22nd I participated in a walk with local NGOs to promote awareness of the importance of clean water and sanitation. I walked with people from organizations including WaterAid, ChildFund, Unicef, The Red Cross, and AusAid along with members of the community. We made our way through downtown Dili stopping traffic and shutting down busy streets. Most importantly, we carried containers filled with 3 gallons of water to experience what it feels like for many people living in rural areas of Timor-Leste who have to travel far distances to collect their water. Even though it was only a 1 mile walk, much shorter than the trips some people have to make in rural areas, it was hot, humid, and those containers seemed to get heavier with each step. 

Clean water is something I definitely took for granted before coming to Timor-Leste. I never had to be so careful to avoid getting a few drops of tap water in my mouth.  I have a new appreciation for clean running water since I now have to rinse fresh fruit and veggies, wash my face, and brush my teeth with bottled water. While this might be inconvenient and annoying it doesn't come close to what people have to do to get their water in rural areas here. The sad reality is that 31% of the population in Timor-Leste do not have access to safe water and 50% of population do not have access to sanitation.  Walking around Dili it's normal to see open gutters and drains that lead straight to the ocean; this is basically their open sewage system. When it rains this problem is even more apparent as the streets flood and become murky brown with waste and debris, contaminating even the fresh water supply. 

Access to clean water is an important issue not only in Timor-Leste but globally. About 884 million people lack access to clean water. All over the world it's usually women and children who are responsible for collecting water for their families for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Sometimes even after spending hours collecting water, the water they've collected is contaminated. This has serious health consequences; 12% of children don't live past the age of 5 due to poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water. Plus, the hours spent collecting water are hours not spent working at an income-generating job, caring for family members, or attending school. 

The Water Walk ended with a huge ceremony complete with music, a drama performance, speeches from community leaders and delicious food. These organizations are not only bringing awareness to the community and educating people on how to maintain their own water systems but also helping to bring clean water and sanitation to rural areas of Timor-Leste. Although it is a huge undertaking, they are slowly making progress. Here is a video for more information. And a longer one: