This is when I meet Helen Apio. While most women hung back politely, Helen jumps toward me and screams two inches from my face. Technically, it’s singing. But the high-pitched shrieking is so loud and reverberates with such energy and emotion, I know I have to talk with her.
She tells me about the new freshwater well in her village. “I am happy now,” Helen beams. “I have time to eat, my children can go to school. And I can even work in my garden, take a shower and then come back for more water if I want! I am bathing so well.”
A few of the men chuckle to hear a woman talk about bathing. But all I notice is Helen’s glowing face, the fresh flowers in her hair, and the lovely green dress she wore for special occasions. Touching her forearm, I reply, “Well, you look great.” “Yes,” she pauses. Placing both hands on my shoulders and smiling, she said, “Now, I am beautiful.”
That really hits me. My job is to focus on sustainable development, health, hygiene and sanitation; to make sure charity: water’s projects are working in 20 years. But nowhere on any of my surveys or evaluations is a place to write, “Today we made someone feel beautiful.”
How Helen became beautiful is the real story. Before she had clean water, she would wake up before dawn, take her only two 5-gallon Jerry Cans and walk almost a mile and a half to the nearest water point, which happened to be at a school. Because there simply wasn’t enough water for the area’s population, she’d wait in line with hundreds of other women who also valued clean water. Helen’s only other option was to skip the wait and collect contaminated water from a pond.
Helen spent most of her day walking and waiting. She tells me each day she’d say to herself, “How should I use this water today? Should I water my garden so we can grow food? Should I wash my children’s uniforms? Should I use it to cook a meal? Should we drink this water?” With two children, one husband and 10 gallons, Helen had to make choices.
I see the shame in her eyes when she describes how she would return from her long trek to find her two young children waiting for her. They were often sent home from school because their uniforms were dirty. Helen just never had enough water.
I see now why she is so eager to scream out her joy and gratitude. She wants me to understand that this gift from charity: water was real. With the new well in her village, her life is transformed. She now has choices. Free time. Options. Also, Helen has been chosen to be the Water Committee Treasurer, collecting nominal fees from 51 households to use for the maintenance of their well. Water Committees are often the first time women are ever elected to leadership positions in villages.
Last month, Helen was standing in line waiting for water.
This month, she’s standing up for her community. And now, she is beautiful.
- Becky Straw, TravelDiaries at designhotels.com
