Clean water
Construction of public toilets and shower rooms
A major problem in Mezezo was the lack of public toilets. As a result, villagers often moved their bowels close to home or in the forest. This caused a lot of pollution around the house. Another consequence was that women had no privacy during their toilet visit. Women often had to wait until it is night to move their bowels. This was very dangerous for the women and the young girls. 1,000 people from different villages come to Mezezo every week for the market. There was no public toilet in Mezezo, except one toilet in a hotel. Wondem Foundation has had a long and intensive discussion about the construction of public toilets with the local government of Mezezo.
For many farmers the use of a public toilet and a hot shower is not quite normal. The people who visit the open market twice a week can now use the toilet and the shower. They pay only a small amount of cleaning costs. The toilets and shower rooms are open from 6.00 a.m. to midnight, so 18 hours a day. In addition to these sanitary facilities, a water supply network has already been installed. By now we have purchased tanks for reserve water and a boiler for hot water.
Water well in Kobastil
Access to clean and safe drinking water is vitally important, but in Kobastil that is anything but self-evident. In order to combat hunger and disease, access to clean drinking water is essential. The well has been realized by local contractors, is accessible to all villagers and, if necessary, is repaired by locally trained plumbers.
Water project
The drinking water and sanitary facilities leave a lot te be desired. This has a direct effect on the health of the children. They are thereby often unnecessary victim of infectious diseases. Wondem Foundation will therefore also carry out projects aimed at improving the hygiene at school. Then it comes to guarantee a good water supply at and around the school.
At the end of 2012 Wondem Foundation is started with installing and deploying water pumps around the school. The school has a good water supply for drinking water and to flush the toilets with those. Part of the project is also the training of all those involved. Technicians, school leadership and municipal officials are trained in the management of the pumps and the management of water conditions in the village. Because of this the school water supply is guaranteed.
Video about Wondem Foundation’s water project of 2025 with English subtitles
Clean water: a vital need in rural Ethiopia
According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, only 13% of the rural population in Ethiopia has access to clean drinking water. The remaining population is continuously exposed to waterborne diseases due to unsafe drinking water, poor hygiene, and lack of sanitation. Water is a fundamental pillar of health, and its absence or pollution can have devastating consequences. In fact, contaminated water is the world’s deadliest killer, claiming the lives of 25,000 people every day. Diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery are directly linked to unsafe water sources and water scarcity.
In rural Ethiopia, the water crisis also has severe social and physical impacts, especially for women and children. Many walk for hours daily to fetch water, carrying heavy jerry cans over long distances. This can lead to chronic back pain, health complications, and miscarriages. Households with 5 to 7 members often survive on as little as 20 liters of water per day — just 3 to 4 liters per person for drinking, washing, cooking, and cleaning. (For comparison: in the Netherlands, the average water usage is 130 liters per person per day.)
Wondem Foundation’s contribution to clean water access
The Wondem Foundation has made significant strides in tackling the water crisis in North Shewa, Ethiopia. Working in close collaboration with local communities, the foundation has successfully:
- protected 7 wells and springs in 2022, ensuring clean and accessible water for nearby villages.
- constructed and protected 6 additional springs in 2024 and 2025, further expanding access to safe water.
These clean water sources are now used for the household, livestock, and small-scale backyard gardening, supporting both health and food security.
Wondem Foundation remains committed to sustainable, community-led water solutions that improve lives and protect vulnerable populations.
Gallery of Clean water
