The villagers of Rawakot in Dailekh, Nepal used to travel miles for fresh water, and suffer from water-borne diseases. But an Oxfam Unwrapped funded rainwater collection system is helping them save water for a non-rainy day.
In remote, drought-ravaged areas of Nepal, collecting rainwater can ensure people have enough water for themselves, their animals and crops.
In Dailekh, women and children used to have to travel long distances to collect water.
The rainwater collection system funded by Oxfam Unwrapped has reduced the distance to collect water and improved the quality of water available. As Krishna Karki says: “We are very happy because this water does not make us sick and we have more time to generate an income”.
As well as training people in the local communities how to harvest rainwater, Oxfam educated local people about the importance of keeping the water source clean, personal hygiene and sanitation in order to reduce rates of water borne diseases. The project helped the poorest members of the community, including ethnic minority groups and women.