Water Choices

Here are two pictures of the water options for Kersa Illala, where the Village of Hope is located. The first picture is of the mud puddle close to the village which is about 12" deep. This was used several years ago by the villagers for washing & bathing. Their choices were to either wash in the muddy puddles or walk miles to wash in a muddy river. Which would you choose?

The second picture is LDS Humanitarian Donations put to work with a well that the Church has put in. They suggest that the people pay 1 Birr (about 8 American cents, or about an hour's wage) to fill their 40 litter water jugs. This is to help the people see the value of investing in clean water. Even so, there are some people who still walk to the river or use puddle water.