Maggie Bukowa, Communication Officer with Vita sent us this latest news:
Vita Implements Community Led Communication Ethos
Vita Ireland rolled out a community led communication initiative in Ethiopia which empowered the Arba Minch community with communication and filming skills.
The community learnt story telling skills such as camera operations and handling, story board development, interviewing techniques and filming. This initiative gave the communities confidence and skills to tell and document their own stories.
This is part of Vita’s strategy to deploy a community led ethos across the whole organisation and its programming.
The community led communication ethos will enhance the community’s true voice with regards to the impact of various Vita projects on their lives and wellbeing.
Communities will be able to tell their own stories in their own voices. They will be able to interview each other and make their own stories without external interference or influence.
Visit Vita Green Impact Fund – Vita Impact for a sample of a community filmed by the community.
Water Access Revitalises Eden Village in Eritrea
Mother of three Hanna Mihterab, lives in Eden village in the Anseba region of Eritrea. Hanna and her eldest son, 13-year-old Adonai, used to collect water from a stream that is two kilometers from their home every day. They would carry 20 liters of water in jerry cans on their backs. On some days, they would make two or three trips in a day in order to wash the family’s clothes, bath or if extra water was needed for visitors.
Hanna’s sons were missing school and didn’t have time for their homework. The water from the stream wasn’t clean, meaning Hanna had to boil it before the family could drink it. Even with her best efforts, some days the children had diarrhea due to the water.
A repaired water point in the village has changed Hanna’s life. This water point is 200 metres from where Hanna lives, she can fetch water in 10 minutes. The water point was repaired by Vita with funding from its partners.
Hanna has more time for the family now that she doesn’t have to travel far for water, and the children are healthier from drinking clean water. Hanna is using less firewood every week as she no longer has to boil the water for the family. This means fewer greenhouse gases are emitted, not just by Hanna’s family but by all the families with access to the newly repaired water point.
Since the water point was repaired, Hanna has not needed to visit the health clinic and has saved money on medical expenses. Her children’s school attendance has improved.
Moreover, she has ample time for other activities. In her free time Hanna grows tomatoes, green peppers cabbages and onions. She uses these vegetables to feed her family and sells the surplus to the neighboring families.