2011 Ethiopia Water Tour: January 29 - February 4
A Water 1st Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime journey for the adventure traveler that will give you a first-hand look at the incredible work being done by our local partner organizations to bring safe, sustainable water supplies to the world’s poor. Water 1st provides grants to non-governmental organizations based in developing countries in order to support the implementation of projects that include the provision of drinking water, hygiene education, and sanitary latrines. Once each year, we escort groups of people to witness these extraordinary programs.
If you are interested in going on this trip, or for more information about the Ethiopia Water Tour, please contact Kirk Anderson at 206.297.3024.
What to Expect
Travelers accompany Water 1st staff to communities with in-progress or completed water projects, interact with community members, meet with representatives of our local partner organization, and have the opportunity to participate in a one-day work project in a community building a water system. There will also be plenty of free time to wander or rest, as well as discuss the experience. Travelers have a unique opportunity to witness the transformations being made in the lives of our project beneficiaries through the provision of safe water, latrines, and hygiene education.
I thought I was going to Ethiopia for a cultural experience, but it turned out to be a life changing one. After seeing the faces of the people in these villages, and watching the women and children walk to and from watering holes carrying heavy containers of water on their backs, my life was forever changed. No longer could I look at this as someone else’s problem, it was now my problem, too.”
– Water Tour Participant
Water Tour Itinerary:
January 29: Join tour in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
You will be met at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by a Water 1st representative.
Transfer to hotel. Welcome drinks and short orientation. Overnight: Global Hotel (3-star). Meals: dinner.
January 30: Addis Ababa.
Visit the headquarters of Water Action, a leading water and sanitation organization in Ethiopia and a Water 1st local partner, for a presentation of their work and our visit goals. Afternoon visit to the Ethiopian Ethnological Museum. Dinner at the Top View Restaurant, with a spectacular view of Addis Ababa. Overnight: as above. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
January 31: Addis Ababa to Oromia
Breakfast in Addis Ababa. Travel to our project area, two hours west of Addis Ababa. Meet with local Water Action field staff for an overview of their program and progress update on the projects supported by Water 1st. Ethiopian lunch and coffee ceremony. Dinner and overnight in Woliso. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
February 1 and 2: Dawo Woreda, Oromia
Half-day work project–help in the construction of a new water system. Visit a completed project and meet the water committee and community members. Visit a community in need of a water project and funding. Walk to communities’ current water source. Dinner and overnight as above. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
February 3: Oromia to Addis Ababa
Travel back to Addis Ababa. Visit the Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa. Overnight in Addis Ababa. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner .
February 4: Tour ends, Addis Ababa
City tour. Visit the National Museum to see the remains of “Lucy,” a 3.2 million year old fossil of the first human, St. George’s Church, and other Addis Ababa highlights. We will celebrate our final evening together with dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant with traditional dancing. Transfer to airport for overnight flights to Europe/USA. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight in Addis Ababa for those flying out February 5.
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