In areas where there’s the equivalent of a permanent hosepipe ban, collecting rainwater can ensure people have enough people have enough water for themselves, their animals and crops. This gift covers the tools and labour needed to build a rainwater tank, and training in how to maintain the water source.

In remote areas of Nepal, rainwater harvesting is essential. Women and children often have to travel long distances to collect water. The rainwater collection system funded by Oxfam Unwrapped has reduced the distance required to collect water and improved the quality of water available.

Oxfam trained people how to harvest rainwater and keep the water source clean, and the importance of personal hygiene and sanitation in order to reduce rates of water borne diseases.

Oxfam also helped people to build ponds to collect rainwater for livestock to drink, and provided poor households with a jar in which to collect rainwater for the family. The project helped the poorest members of the community, including ethnic minority groups and women.

Krishna’s story

Krishna Karki is the treasurer of the Savings and Credit Group in Rawakot village in Dailekh. She says: "Women and children in this village often spend hours each day collecting water during the dry season. The rainwater collection system has made us very happy and we are saving time, which we can use to generate an income. We now understand how important clean water is for our children's good health. Since we started using this water we do not hear of children and other family members becoming sick from diarrhoea, stomach pain or headaches. Children can go to school on time, as we no longer need to travel far for water."