From the Field: Meet the inspiring leaders of Dargah Sharif, Bangladesh

Empowering Community Leaders

Meet the leaders of Dargah Sharif, a neighborhood of Khulna, Bangladesh, home to 3,000 people. This committee was organized and trained by our local partner Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) to address the water & sanitation needs of their community and, in the committee’s words, ‘to reduce inequality.’ Their accomplishments are inspiring.

Seeking work and a better way of life, families moved from rural areas and settled in Dargah Sharif. Cramped one-room housing with no water or toilets made for extremely unhygienic living conditions. Illness was rampant. Residents working as rickshaw pullers, fish vendors, and day laborers spent their hard-earned wages treating water-related illnesses. And women and girls spent valuable time in search of water missing school and work. This vicious cycle made it difficult to gain any economic security.

Thanks to the work of the committee and the generosity of Water1st supporters, Dargah Sharif has made impressive progress since 2019:

28 water systems constructed throughout the neighborhood, including the local school and health clinic.
1,000 more people with access to safe water + 500 more people with access to hygienic toilets
Children are healthier, medical expenses have decreased, and families are saving money.

The committee was also well positioned to assist their neighbors during the pandemic—they were a source of trusted information on ways to reduce the risk of acquiring COVID, including frequent handwashing (now possible with readily available clean water!).

A huge burden of time, weight, and stress has been lifted.

With more projects planned for 2023, the committee will continue working toward their goal of 100% water & sanitation access in the neighborhood, as well as forming hygiene-education groups for children & adolescents.

"It used to take 90 minutes to collect water. Now we have clean water right here!"
JAHIDA AND SHUMANA AT THEIR NEW FAUCETS

"We are proud of what we've accomplished so far. We feel confident in our abilities to solve problems and bring change to our community."
ZUMA, DARGAH SHARIF COMMITTEE MEMBER

Committee members participate in a mapping exercise to identify their community’s needs. They vote on their highest-priority issues and create an action plan to solve them. Access to clean water is top of list as 40% of a community’s income is spent on treating water-related illnesses.

Community-Based Committees: The Backbone of Projects

Community-based committees are integral to the work of Water1st. They provide a structure for residents to manage their water projects and help organize the community to tackle unforeseen challenges.

Once communities like Dargah Sharif successfully address their water & sanitation needs, they are equipped with the structure, skills, experience, and confidence to solve their next highest-priority issue. Communities lobby government for trash collection service and electricity, and use their collective power to bring about change and the services they deserve.

Students at the Dargah Sharif school enjoying their new water & toilet facilities. Children now have a clean and healthy environment to learn and girls can stay in school.

Your support makes this life-changing work possible in communities throughout Bangladesh, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Thank you!

From the Field: Meet the inspiring leaders of Dargah Sharif, Bangladesh

Empowering Community Leaders

Community-Based Committees: The Backbone of Projects

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