Swapna’s community had a problem—they couldn’t get enough water. They only had four wells to serve 40 families, two of which dried up for 6 months of the year.
In addition to cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, women in Holdia Palong are responsible for collecting water for their whole households. They had no choice but to waste hours every day standing in line waiting for their turn at the community tap. This made it difficult for them to pursue their education, make a living, or other aspirations.
Since it took so long, women could only collect water once a day. They had to be resourceful with the water they could carry, making sure it was able to cover all their household needs—drinking, cooking, bathing, and cleaning. There was never enough to meet everyone's needs.
Without sufficient water, Swapna’s family couldn’t wash clothes or bathe regularly. Her 72-year-old father-in-law constantly fell ill from waterborne diseases, adding to the family’s struggle.
“I became disappointed due to the water problem [since water] is our daily essential need.” Swapna remembers. “[Lack of water] hampered our daily work because we had to wait a long time to collect water from another tube well.”
Thanks to generous Canadians who gave Gift Guide items like Clean Water and Water Wells, FH Bangladesh worked with the families of Holdia Palong and quickly prioritized clean water access.
When FH installed a new submersible pump with an overhead tank, Swapna stepped up to donate the land in her own backyard—for free!—for the new waterpoint site. As a result, women in her community could access water close to home, multiple times a day. The water crisis was over!
“Now, I and all my neighbours drink safe and pure water and keep ourselves and our children clean all the time,” Swapna smiles.
Thanks to generous donors and Swapna’s kindness, her community now enjoys regular access to clean water, allowing them to bathe and wash clothes whenever they need. Women in Swapna’s community now have more time to pursue their ambitions, like education or starting businesses!
Swapna’s leadership has gone beyond this bold act of generosity—her community elected her as the cashier for the water committees that oversee the pump’s installation and maintenance. They also chose her to be a Leader Mother of the Cascade Health group to teach women basic, life-saving health education. Clean Water changed Swapna’s community and it transformed Swapna too! FH staff have seen the changes in her first-hand. “Swapna is now a self-confident, diligent woman,” says Martina from FH Bangladesh. “She wants to lead her community.”