Earlier this month, a group of our board members and leadership team traveled to rural Ethiopia to see the Vision of a Healthy Village in action. We visited program areas in Dodola, Kokosa, and Bensa across the Oromia and Sidama regions.
It’s one thing to see the data in our reports, but standing at a water point and talking to the people whose lives are changing makes the work feel very real.
On the Ground in Oromia and Sidama
The team spent the week visiting villages, schools, and community health programs. We didn’t just look at finished projects; we visited active drilling sites to see the process of expanding access to remote areas and met with the local leaders, teachers, and health volunteers who drive this work forward.
John Drechny, our Board Chair, noted how powerful it is to see this transformation firsthand. “Access to safe water changes everything,” he said. “From improving child health to enabling children to attend school and communities to thrive.”
Ensuring it Lasts
A major focus of the trip was our Service Provider Group model. This is the locally managed system that handles the long-term operation and maintenance of the wells. It’s the key to making sure these systems don’t just work for a few months, but continue to provide reliable water for years to come.
For Jenise Steverding, a member of our Board of Directors, meeting the families and local leaders was the most meaningful part of the experience. It reinforced how much the collaboration between communities, government, and partners matters for creating healthier futures.
Measurable Change
The impact is already showing up in the community. Gizachew Noarie, Chief Administrator of the Eastern Sidama Zone, joined us to highlight how these water points are significantly improving health and reducing the risk of waterborne diseases in remote villages.
Our latest data reflects this progress: in the areas where we operate, access to safe water has increased significantly, and cases of childhood diarrhea have dropped dramatically due to better sanitation and hygiene.
Looking Ahead
We finished the week in Addis Ababa, joining government leaders and partners to celebrate the launch of Water for Good Ethiopia’s new brand identity.
Seeing the work in the field reminded everyone on the team why we do this. We’re more committed than ever to expanding these sustainable systems and reaching more communities in need.
