Halima Mohammed Abdallah - Integrated Water Resource Management
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Authors
Elizabeth Dunn
Issue Date
2015-05
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture , Environment , Water and Sanitation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Halima Mohammed Abdallah is 49 years old. She is married with 12 children – 5 girls and 7 boys aged between 33 and 4. She lives in Golo Village in North Darfur, which is more than 8km from El Fasher. To reach the town, Halima travels by donkey cart. More than 3,800 people live in the village and the houses are made from thatch and wood. There aren’t any trees left in the community and the land is very dry. Halima is a Community Mobiliser trained by Practical Action. Practical Action began working with Halima’s community in 2006 when it set up two community-based organisations (Women’s Association and Community Development Association). Halima leads community mobilisation and peace building. Goats, donkeys and seeds were distributed to the community, and a school, toilets and community centre were constructed. A revolving fund system was introduced. Halima explained: "the biggest problem is lack of access to water. It affects my life in general. We don’t have good agriculture. We have to buy water to drink because we have no water points. Some people bring water into the village via tanker and we buy it. It costs 20SDG for approximately 80 litres. A whole family uses 80 litres a day. We spend 20 SDG a day just buying water. We save water during the Autumn months, so that we have money to buy water in the summer. We spend 1/3 of our money on water." "There is no water so we cannot cultivate the land. If there is more water, we could grow okra and we can dry it ready for times when there is less food. Before, rain was good. It would continue for 2 months. Now, it only rains for 2 weeks! It is very strange. In the village, they do not like to have trees. [Thanks to the project] They now understand the benefit of having trees. Before, we thought there was no need. We are all seeing improvement." "Now we know how to fertilise and prepare the land. We were trained in cultivation. Midwives and vets have also been trained and we were trained in low smoke stove and food processing. Since Practical Action, there has been improvement in the village. I am now feeling comfortable. Before, we were searching for the seeds. We planted them but did not get good production. Only one sack. Now we know how to produce many products because of the seeds and techniques. In the ‘good era’, we would get 20 sacks from the land. Because of climate change, it’s now only 10 sacks." "Conflict is the biggest problem facing Darfur. If there is no security, how can we benefit from water? I am a leader for the WDA (Women’s Development Association) in Gola. I attend all meetings on behalf of the women to tell them what is happening. I lead discussions in the village to make decisions. I deliver training in nutrition and how to breastfeed children. I mobilise the community." When asked about this project, Hamila responded: "I am leading on the community mobilisation, there are 30 members and we distribute the work. We are currently asking communities to plant trees. I think if we go in the same direction with this high commitment until we finish the WADI, we will not need the support of El Fasher, we will be self-sufficient. Have good intentions and it will happen. If there are similar projects then I will not worry about them at all." "I am now a famous singer in Darfur. Practical Action has encouraged me. In 2008, we formed a team and we have been going to villages ever since. We deliver peace building songs and plays. I even go to Khartoum to perform and this is all because of Practical Action. My singing has brought communities together [in peace]. The songs I sing are about Darfurians fighting. 'Why fight? You are human beings, you should not fight.' I write the words and music myself. 'Darfur people, stop fighting each other, stop killing each other. Every girl in Darfur is like a Sultana. Her skin is from Africa. She’s generous because she’s from Darfur. I wish you all a good life.'”