Back in the UK...reverse culture shock!

Posted by Sadie - Sunday, April 20, 2008

Ethiopian Airways turned out to be an experience in itself. Serge and I got a little bit scared on the plane as we were told there were some technical difficulties, promptly followed by a man in a florescent jacket screwing a window back together...then my seat broke and the arm rest between us was just hanging on for dear life. Oh well, we arrived home in one piece!

It was strange saying goodbye to the group I’d spent the last intense week with but in a way I was glad to be home. Recalling all the things I’ve seen I can’t really believe I’ve been away...

What stood out most for me was seeing how vital water is to life. I’ve always known you can’t survive without it, but to have it in such a state that it takes you 2 hrs to collect and then makes you and your family ill is incomprehensible to us. And fancy not knowing you have to wash your hands after you’ve been to the toilet?! It seems so simple to us – but without being told why would you know? From what I’ve seen in Ethiopia, I believe that water is more than important, it is the linchpin and core of life, livelihood and health. I’ve seen it pull people up from below the poverty line to become healthy, well off and happy. The 3 pronged approach of clean water, sanitation and hygiene education that forms WaterAid’s mission is followed successfully by the EOC. This teamed with the community ownership of the projects that we saw, highlights the sustainability and longevity of the work that’s completed. It is now clear to me that it can’t ever be about just giving water to people who don’t have it.