Water frees our worry

People used to dread summer in Kokko Su village, a Delta region rice farming village.

The wells ran dry from February to May. 

“The two wells only provided enough water until January.” 

“Sometimes we had to wait until midnight to get water from the wells. Sometimes we go to Nat Yay Twin (meaning a well blessed by god) to bathe and fetch water for drinking. It takes us around 10 minutes from the village to get there,” says Mahn Soe, the village development leader. 

Mahn Soe has five children and Myo Thu, 14, in Grade 8 is the eldest son after his two elder sisters. Myo always helped fetch water. 

“I rested for a while after returning home from school and then I went to the stream to fetch water. As it is a long way to get water, we could not use it as much as we wished. 

The 10 minute-walk was not along a road, but a trail goes along a sloping hill. Since this well was in the forest, it was risky for the children. Children could be bitten by a snake or they might fell into a hole covered with dry leaves. 

“Sometime, if I didn’t have time, I just used the water from the small stream close to my house but it is dirty. So, sometimes I am not very clean and sometimes, I get stomach problems,” says Myo. 

The monsoon season, which fills the wells, runs for five months from June to October. 

For generations, families faced this difficult summer task. 

Until early 2015. 

The village elders discussed an idea to bring more clean water to their village and submitted their idea to World Vision staff. 

“Within a week, our proposal was approved and we started our piping work from a new water source to the village,” says Mahn Soe.

Water comes from a small creek flowing through the forest near Kokko village. The access point is a 10 minute-walk from the village.  

“We didn’t hire an external expert to do this but we did it together ourselves. We connected 55 pipes in three sizes and the total length of piping to reach the village was 1,100 feet. World Vision financially supported us and we contributed our manpower to make this happen,” shares Mahn Soe. 

The community members used their ingenuity to design the pipe system. They didn’t divert all the water to one pipe, but installed two pipes at different levels. Fallen leaves are caught in the upper pipe so that only water flows into the lower pipe, ensuring no blockages.

They also constructed a concrete wall to hold water from the small creek, and from there the pipes were connected to a concrete storage tank at the entrance of the village in order for everyone to access water.

“Once the very first water poured from the pipes, we were so happy and overjoyed. I can’t even express it. The whole village shouted with joy,” Mahn Soe shares.

“We feel and see the benefits. We have enough water for our plants. Our children improved their personal hygiene with easy access to baths. Before this, we usually had two or three children who got diarrhea every year. But this year, I heard of none,” Mahn Soe smiles.

“I don’t have to fetch water from a far away stream. So, I have more time to play football and cane ball with my friends,” Myo smiles.

“As I now have plenty of water, I can go to school clean. Thanks a lot World Vision,” Myo thanks. 

The community’s future plan is to install more pipes inside the village so that water reaches every house.