After the involvement of the local authorities , who will be responsible for the future management of the aqueducts, the population – involved, sensitized and trained – decided to make their manpower available, sometimes even for free, and the land where the tanks will be built and the pipes will pass.
Finally, the construction work on the aqueduct has begun!
The aim is to rehabilitate the water infrastructure for a length of 12.6 km and extend it by another 8,411 km to reach villages that still do not have access to drinking water.
But how can we make choices that take into account technical needs and, at the same time, the needs of the community?
After the technical study we had to make a careful assessment of the construction times in order to be able to intervene on the water sources without having to completely block the springs, in order not to interrupt the water supply to those areas and communities already reached.
Subsequently, the choice to involve the population in the transportation – by hand – of part of the materials, allowed to use better and more durable ones. As well as preferring local labor for the production of stones and gravel, perhaps investing more time and extending the project times, but offering a small source of income to the people of the community for the economic strengthening of families.
The strength and sustainability over time of a typical project are guaranteed only with full awareness of local communities. For this reason, it is always necessary to remain attentive to the needs and requests of families, individuals, administrations or anyone seeking dialogue or a space to listen to their needs.
