LOCATION:
Weledi, Amhara, Ethiopia
Approximately 205 miles (330 km) from the capital city of Addis Ababa, located near the Rift Valley, in the highlands of north central Ethiopia.
COMMUNITY DETAILS:
The village of Weledi has a population of 200 families with another 5,000 people living in 18 villages within a 20 km radius. Weledi serves as the major hub for this area as it is located on a paved roadway, has schools and also has a pharmacy.
The economic situation was that the commercial farm in the area provides jobs for the majority of the people in Weledi. They are day laborers and earn wages of 50 cents per day – wages below the subsistence level of $1 per day. The abject poverty is exacerbated by malaria, water borne and other communicable diseases resulting in a high mortality rate in the area. Three-fourths of the health problems in the country are attributed to communicable disease caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
Typical crowd size at a regularly-held Weledi Market Day.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The focus of this project was to improve the health and educational opportunities for the community and make a better life for the residents. The primary needs of the community are access to fresh water, sanitation systems, repair to the school buildings, construction of walkways, upgrades to the electrical infrastructure and formation of landfills/compost systems to service the community.
The Sanitation System project included the construction of communal latrines, the installation of hand washing stations at each latrines, and a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) intervention and education initiative. This project educated the community on the importance of human waste management, hand washing, and appropriate use of clean water as a means to prevent the transmission of diseases. Also by keeping the waste contained, these latrines prevent groundwater contamination and spread of disease. EWB-USA taught the community how to construct ventilated pit latrines. Public latrines were constructed at the community’s elementary/middle and high school.
This project was implemented in November 2017 in collaboration with Outreach Ethiopia and the local Weledi Government.
Left: Base slab being poured. Center: Starting on construction of pit walls. Right: Pit walls getting to above grade level.
Left: Pouring of the columns. Center: The latrine pit has been covered by the slab that forms the floor of the latrine. The black color seen below the floor slab is due to the sealant used on the pit walls. Right: The latrine walls under construction.
Left: Sinks installed next to the latrines so latrine users can wash their hands. Right: An elevated water tank is installed to provide sufficient water for the sinks.
In September 2019, the Weledi Program was transferred to the San Francisco Professional Chapter. This transition was due to the relocation of several of the key project team members to that region. Through the San Francisco Professional Chapter, monitoring for this project was conducted and the project was officially closed out in 2025 following a successful 5-year commitment to the community project.
Making a difference for the people of Weledi.
Project team video of the Implementation Trip.
PROJECT ADOPTION DATE:
September 2013 (Central Houston Professional Chapter)
PROJECT STATUS:
Complete
Impact: Elimination of open defecation at market area servicing 5,000 people
TEAM LEADS:
- Po Yan Ho – Project Co-Lead
- Meron Agonafir – Project Co-Lead
- Chris Bell – Project Co-Lead