MDC’s involvement in the critical issue of clean drinking water began in 2018, when the Maji town pump burned out.
Town leaders took Caroline and board member Chris Bounds to see the muddy springs where people were reduced to drawing water. MDC entered into an Memorandum of Understanding with the Maji district administration to repair the Maji town water system on a cost-sharing basis.
They managed repair of the well, installation of the pump, and all distribution system work. MDC solicited donors and bids, then with our Ethiopian business partner, SunTransfer Tech, delivered a new pump to Maji. The pump was installed by MDC staff, our business partner, and Maji District’s Water Department staff. A year later, the old diesel generator broke down and MDC facilitated installing solar power for the pump.
In 2020, MDC responded to the appeals of rural communities off the mountaintop, on steep slopes where there is no water table. Women and young teens walk up into the forests to draw water from springs, and carry it home in 5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, the water is not clean, since cattle also drink from the spring pools.
MDC is cost-sharing again with local government departments to cover the springs, build a reservoir and pipe the water down to sites for drawing clean water, troughs for the cattle, and clothes washing stations. This will bring better health to men, women and children, and will relieve the backbreaking work women now do.