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.
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.
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.
