#triptothefield

We’ve read about it. We’ve heard about it. We’ve even seen countless videos of it. But in that moment when I watched as a rig drilled down to hit water in the village of Mai Ayni, Ethiopia with my very own eyes, everything changed. We all celebrated together as the water shot high into the air and I stood in awe as I realized that there is nothing more powerful than being in the field to truly understand the impact that is being made on the ground.

Last month, I had the honor of traveling to the Tigray Region of Ethiopia with 16 of my fellow colleagues, and friends, to experience the work of charity: water firsthand. It was an incredibly meaningful and memorable trip full of more laughs, tears, injera, and Ethiopian coffee than any of us could have imagined.

For most of us, this was our first time traveling to the field with charity: water. It was a diverse group made up of everyone from engineers and accountants to designers and fundraisers. Since our day to day jobs aren’t directly involved with programs in the field, this was an especially unique experience that allowed for us to truly reconnect with charity: water’s mission.

We expected through the course of the trip we’d learn more about our work on the ground, see our local partners in action, and connect with the amazing people in the communities we work in. But what we got out of it was so much more.

Over the course of our travels, three things stood out above all else…

1. The Real Impact

We started the trip by visiting a community that still lacks access to clean water. Located on the top of a mountain in the Ahferom District, this community was nearly inaccessible. As our cars crawled precariously up the highlands of Tigray (and even got stuck a few times), we were in awe of just how remote the communities we work in truly are.

It was in this community that we began to see the real need. A large, deep hole in the ground hidden beneath low trees and thorn-filled bushes was the entire community of 1,500 people’s water source. It was filled with dirty, brown water that they have to share with livestock.

But despite these conditions, one thing was constant: the will of the community members to keep their dreams alive. We learned that the road leading up to this community was newly constructed, finally giving them hope that help and a better future was on its way.

During the trip, we had the privilege of traveling to five rural communities throughout Tigray. Communities that had newly constructed water points, one that would soon have one, and even one that received clean water before our very eyes. We participated in water walks, were invited into people’s homes, and even got to have personal conversations with local community members to truly understand the difference clean water was making in their lives. Beautiful moments were shared during these conversations and it is a feeling that will stay with us forever. 

2. Local Commitment

True global impact requires local commitment, knowledge, and expertise. After spending the week with members of the REST team, we were incredibly impressed with each and every one of them. They so obviously have a passion for charity: water’s mission, and work their hardest every day to fully realize its potential.

At one of our site visits, we had the opportunity to see the repair of a broken well firsthand. We watched as the Wahis Mai team (our local maintenance program that works to keep water flowing at all our water points in Ethiopia), alongside the community members, joined together to keep water flowing for this village in Debre Hiwot, Ethiopia. We learned about the important role water committees and the local government play in ensuring the long-term sustainability of each water project. They work tirelessly to put measures in place for the continued maintenance and repair of these projects. Without this local team, ensuring sustainability of charity: water projects would be impossible.

3. Joy and Love

The unconditional sense of joy and love in these communities was unparalleled. This was evident in every interaction we experienced. Throughout each of our site visits, we were welcomed by entire communities with singing, dancing, endless amounts of popcorn, and hundreds of warm, appreciative smiles.

Community leaders would share their passion and commitment to the water projects and express how our support is helping them achieve their dreams of a better future. There was hardly a dry eye among the charity: water team as we clearly saw again and again how transformational clean water was for these people. We all learned a great lesson on that point and came home with a much broader appreciation of the world around us and the joy in every day.  

I left Ethiopia with real world proof of the impact of clean water; proof that goes beyond what I ever could have imagined by just looking at numbers or hearing stories. Having seen the impact firsthand, I now wake up every day with a newfound appreciation for the work that we do, knowing that it leads to transformational and sustainable outcomes in the lives of people all around the world. And I know that I speak for the entire charity: water team that joined me on the trip when I say we are incredibly grateful for this experience and are all better because it.