Submitted by: Alicia Helion
“There is no water here! Please can you do something to help?” Gebeyehu was a nurse in his mid-20s, and had just been appointed as the head of a health center in a rural village in northwestern Ethiopia’s Amhara Region. His usual easy-going, playful voice on the phone had been replaced by the heavy tense sounds of someone holding responsibility for hundreds—without many of the basic resources needed to care for them. How could he provide for the people of Abowerum at his health center if he did not have water?The Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club jumped into action after hearing the news. Hibste Mekonnen, Rotarian and program director for Wogen Women’s and Children’s Support Organization in Gondar immediately reached out to make appointments with administrative personnel in the District. Within a few days, Hibste had gained approval from the Health Department to build the well and was working hand-in-hand with the Water department to identify the appropriate next steps.
Only a few short weeks after hearing Gebeyehu’s plea, the Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club had a proposal to build a well in Abowerum.
In the USA, Rotary District 5580 was quick to find support for the Abowerum well through a District Grant. Williston Rotary volunteered to be the sponsor club for the project, with nine District 5580 Clubs joining to support the effort: FMAM Rotary, Detroit Lakes noon, Fergus Falls, Virginia, Central Lakes, Brainerd, Port Arthur, Fort William, and Duluth Harbortown.
The Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club, in partnership with Wogen and the Dembia Woreda Water Department and Health Departments broke ground for the well outside the Abowerum Health Center in December, 2017. By February, the well was complete. The community was buzzing with excitement as they filled their yellow water buckets outside the health center. Gebeyehu sent a message full of gratitude thanking Rotary for their support of the well.
Today, you can find the well at Abowerum Health Center with happy children gathered around…and letters in blue paint on the side of the well proudly proclaim ‘DISTRICT 5580’.
THANK YOU, Williston Rotary and the other supporting clubs, Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club, and Wogen Women’s and Children’s Support Organization, and District 5580 for making this well a reality! And thank you Gebeyehu, for bringing your need to our attention, so Rotarians around the world could join to support your community!