Collective Community Listening: Harnessing the Power of Community Involvement for Safe Drinking Water Access
Woman in Kalapara Upazila, Bangladesh, using the new well installed in her village
—First published on LinkedIn on February 5th, 2024—
Written by Mahfuza Mala, The Share Trust, Bangladesh Country Representative
Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. Yet so many communities around the world are still without access to safe, clean drinking water. In countries like Bangladesh, women and children have to walk miles to collect water that is often contaminated or saline-rich. One woman’s selfless act, with the power of changing her community, shows how locally driven solutions can radically impact a whole community's access to such a critical resource.
Shukhi Begum is a compassionate and empathetic leader who lives in coastal Bangladesh — in Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali, Bangladesh. Growing up in a climate-vulnerable, rural small village, Shukhi witnessed the struggles her community faced. With no nearby water source, villagers were forced to walk long distances, often 4 to 6 miles away, to fetch water from rivers and ponds. These water sources were often contaminated, harboring harmful bacteria and impurities. The consequences were dire — waterborne diseases ravaged the community, particularly impacting children and the elderly. The absence of safe drinking water not only compromised their health, but hindered all aspects of their lives, like their ability to pursue education and economic opportunities. Women and young girls are often burdened with the responsibility of collecting water, further exacerbating gender inequalities and limiting their potential. Despite their resilience, it was challenging for the community to address this critical issue. Local authorities lacked the resources and infrastructure to provide a sustainable solution, leaving villagers caught in a cycle of desperation and uncertainty.
When Shukhi received news that members of the Sundarban Coalition were conducting a community consultation session near her home to better understand her community's needs, and determine solutions from locally-led actions to the climate crisis, she wanted to attend, and be a strong voice for her community.
Shukhi Begum's act transformed her community for the better
Among the diverse group of participants, Shukhi stood out with her unwavering determination to address challenges women endure as a result of climate change, gender disparity, poverty and lack of good governance in the society. She voiced the pressing issues her village confronted, with a particular emphasis on the urgent need for a reliable source of safe drinking water. She explained that the problem of safe water is more acute in her village. Frequent cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels have contaminated water sources in the coastal areas and women have had to bear the brunt of it. The majority of villagers had relied on a tube well installed by an NGO a few years ago. However, when the NGO phased out their project from the area, the tube well was fenced off by the landowner, denying access to outsiders. Shukhi was deeply affected when she witnessed the mistreatment of women who came to collect water from this tube well. She also described the hardships faced by women in the village, who had to travel long distances to fetch water and often faced sexual harassment and gender-based violence during the long journey.
Shukhi's heartfelt plea resonated with the participants, who wholeheartedly supported her proposal for an alternate water source. The main challenge lay in securing land for a new tube well that would be accessible to all, particularly women and people with disabilities. Desperate for a solution, Shukhi discussed the land issue with her husband, a day laborer who has worked hard to make ends meet for their family. The solution they came to was to offer to donate a valuable piece of their own land, approximately one decimal in size, for the construction of the well. This piece of land was one of the most valuable assets they owned — a true lifeline for her family's survival. The community unanimously decided to install the tube well on Shukhi's donated land, valued at around BDT 45,000 (USD 409).
"I will formally transfer my land to the community with a valid deed of agreement, ensuring that our community doesn't face the difficulties we've endured before."
The Sundarban Coalition members acknowledged the importance of the community's decisions and engagement that led to the execution of the project through their joint action plan.
Thanks to Shukhi's generosity, the tube well was successfully installed with community leadership weighing in on design and implementation. But her journey did not end there. Shukhi Begum urged the community to establish a management committee for the tube well and encouraged them to prioritize access for persons with disabilities and senior citizens when collecting water. Her drive to transform her community has has a lasting impact on her neighbors, has promoted unity, and ensured access to safe drinking water for all. With unwavering commitment, she became the driving force behind the transformation.
Community members can now all access clean water
Shukhi's story beautifully illustrates the significance of community involvement in the development process. This fosters a sense of ownership within the community, motivating them to actively participate in the implementation of development initiatives, and be active agents of change. It brings people together, creates a sense of belonging, and promotes a shared responsibility for the well-being of the community.
Shukhi exemplifies how women are powerful agents of change and contribute to all levels of resilience building. What Shukhi, and other local actors need, is an enabling environment for them to actively play their roles — community-led resilience building that lies at the heart of the Sundarban Coalition's mission, demonstrating that change begins with the voices and actions of local community people like her. With people like Shukhi Begum, the Sundarban Coalition is a leader in resilience building to address the growing impacts of climate change in their communities.
The Sundarban Coalition is a coalition of 16 local and national organizations working together to foster locally-led resilience and humanitarian action in coastal areas of Bangladesh. For more information on the Sundarban Coalition's work, follow them on Facebook.
The Share Trust enables the environment where local and national organizations can come together and act as a coalition to better address community need, by shifting power, processes, and funding. Learn more at thesharetrust.org.