Final Reports

Potable Water for Zarshi Ke Village Project Manager: Wende Drolma (Wanda) The overall purpose of this project is to improve the lives of the villagers in ZarshiKe Village. The main goal of this project is tosupply Zarshi ke Village with a clean and dependable drinking water supply Funds needed: $1,490   ( 12,330 rmb) The Canada Fund Funded this project

Wende Drolma is from Yushu autonomous Tibetan prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. She graduated in 2005 with an Associated degree in English from the Qinghai Normal University Nationalities Department's English Training Program.
View photos of project location
Read Wendedrolma's life story

What? Potable Water for Zarshi Ke village
Who? Zarshi Ke village, Gyegu township, Yushu prefecture, Qinghai Province

Photos of project implementation:

A village woman helps the skilled workers to clean water out of the well.

Cleaning out the earth from the well.

The stone was purchased and ready to be piled to make a stone wall inside the well.

Tsering Yumtso and Gasang Zhaba help the skilled workers to pile the stone.

Since the weather is very cold in December, the well could freeze during the night. The villagers protected the well from the cold by covering it with quilts and blankets.

The villagers were very active at the local level and helped the skilled workers to clean out the water from the well.

The villagers eagerly participated for the duration of the project.

One completed well, which is connected to a water pump with tubes.

The other completed well.

The members of the well care taking committee.

Summary of Project Objectives & Background

This potable water project was funded by the Canada Fund in Beijing with the purpose of:

•  Improving of this the lives of the villagers in Zarshi Ke Village.
•  Supplying Zarshi Ke village with a clean and dependable drinking water supply.
•  Improving the villagers' health conditions.
•  Improving the villagers' safety.
•  Improving the lives of the women and the girls of Zarshi Ke.
•  Improving the overall living conditions of the villagers
•  Increasing the school enrollment of girls.

The Canada Fund agreed to contribute 12,730RMB to dig two wells in Zarshi Ke village. The villagers and the well committee cooperated with the project managers and the Canada Fund to implement the project.

The local villagers contributed 990 RMB in cash and offered the labor of eight people each day during the implementation of the project. In addition the villagers also donated food to the workers.

The project was supervised by the villager Leader Duojey Renching and the project manager Wende Drolma along with another villager named Bangtang. Throughout the project the villagers were very helpful in solving problems and helping to purchase the materials. The project was completed successfully with the cooperation of the villagers and the support of The Canada Fund. Every material for the project was purchased after a discussion between villagers, the project manager, and supervisors.

Local Beneficiaries

This project has benefited a total of 31 households and 210 people in Zarshi Ke village. 94 are male and 116 are female. The living conditions of these 31 households are very poor. Villagers live on an annual income of less than 2,000 RMB per family per year and it is very hard for them to survive throughout the year.

Women especially benefit from this project. Fetching water has caused myriad problems for the women of Zarshi Ke. Their safety was threatened each time they went to fetch water, and the act of fetching water created several health problems. Most women's backs are hunched as a result of fetching since the age of six or seven. They also suffer from waist pain and stomachaches. The children of ZarshiKe have also suffered because of unclean water. Their immune systems are not very strong; and it is easier for them to get sick from the contaminated water. Thus, this project has a significant positive impact on the lives of women and children.

In addition, this project is very sustainable. The well care-taking committee will monitor the wells and be responsible for any necessary repairs. Therefore, this project will be beneficial to coming generations. The local people estimate that the wells will be beneficial for over three generations of Zarshi Ke villagers.

Contribution from the Beneficiaries/ Villagers

Local people eagerly participated in the project implementation. Everyday for twenty- three days, four villagers worked for free as unskilled laborers on each well. Sometimes, when the other villagers had free time they would come to the project site to work even though it was not their turn. For the duration of the project, the villagers contributed 990 RMB in Cash. In addition they donated food to the family who was hosting the workers. The estimated cash value of these contributions is about 1,800RMB for food and 2,400RMB for labor. The cash local contribution was used for the transportation fee. Wende Drolma paid 396RMB.

The Canada Fund contributed a total of 12,330RMB for the project and 400RMB for miscellaneous and management expenses.

Narrative summary of project activities and achievements.

Last winter I realized the need for a well in Zarshi Ke village. Then last January I talked to the villagers about the project. I began to write a project proposal soon after, and completed it in May with the help of Michelle. In August, I learned that my proposal had been approved by the Canada Fund. Then, the following activities took place:

•  The Zarshi Ke villagers were informed of the Canada Fund's decision to fund the project.
•  The first contract with SDA was signed and then second contract with Dr Kevin Stuart was signed. After that the third contract with Canada Fund was signed.
•  An initial payment of 11,457 was sent to SDA, the intermediary organization, by the Canada Fund. The second installment went to Dr Kevin Stuart's bank account.
•  In mid September the initial payment of 11,457RMB was given to the implementing agency.
•  At the end of the November, the project was carried out under the supervision of the villager leader Duojey Renching, Bangtang, and Wende Drolma.
•  The project manager organized a village meeting to begin the project and choose the village well care-taking committee. At this time, the agreement between the Canada fund and the implementing agency and the project budget were posted on the project site.
•  Four skilled workers were contracted to dig the wells. Each of them signed a contract to guarantee the quality of their work.
•  A project committee meeting was held to discuss the purchasing of materials. All of the villagers cooperated very well. The villagers decided where to purchase materials and helped complete the purchase.
•  In mid December the project was completed. The villagers drank water from the well and inspected the wells for quality.
•  Finding that wells were well constructed, the final payment was given to the skilled workers.
•  Another village meeting was held to confirm the tasks of the well care-taking committee, and to again discuss the Canada Fund's contribution to the project.
•  Ten days after the completion of the project, Wende Drolma interviewed the villagers about the project's impact with the help of Duojey Renching and Bangtang
•  In the beginning of January 2006, Wende Drolma wrote the final report.

Problems or Challenges

During the project we encountered several problems. First, this year the well digging fee for the skilled workers rose by a lot, because this year there are more families digging wells in other places. In addition, lots of skilled workers who were Han Chinese and know how to dig wells went home. During the past summer almost no Han Chinese got a chance to dig caterpillar fungus. Thus they didn't have enough money to stay in Yushu, and they went home because there usually is no construction work available in Yushu during the winter. As a result, no workers would agree to dig the well for the originally quoted price of 185RMB. Finally we agreed to pay them 200RMB per meter.

Key project results and outcomes

•  Before the project, there were lots of children suffering from illnesses caused by unclean water. After the project, by chatting with the local doctor, we learned that from late December until now, nobody visited the doctor as a result of illnesses caused by unclean water. Because of this, we conclude that overall the project has helped improve the villagers' health significantly.

•  The school enrollment for girls in our village was very low before the project. However, after the project was completed, five new families said that they are going to send their children to school. These families have begun to appreciate women's increased abilities as a result of being educated, because the project manager was Wende Drolma, a woman. In addition, the local people realized the use of Education and said that they were convinced that education is a way to get rid of poverty. Finally, the students study time has increased; especially for girls.

•  The women's safety has improved. Women no longer have to worry about slippery accidents and backaches that come from carrying two buckets of water for a long time over a long distance. Now women can come to the wells to fetch water with a bucket or pot. They have more time to relax and now they can go out and circumambulate the Mani walls.

•  From an interview I learned that there was an improvement in women's social status after the completion of the project. Since women don't have to spend lots of time fetching water, some have begun to establish small-scale businesses, such as a family shop. This new endeavor will support the family income and the family members will be more respectful to the women. In this way, their position in the family will slowly rise.

•  We also found out from a survey that there are ten families who are planning to build a small green house to support their family income. Before this project was completed, they wanted to build green house, but could not because getting water was too inconvenient. Running a green house requires a lot of water, so they gave up their plans. But now, because access to water is very convenient, they can grow vegetables

Comparison of Actual Results and Expected Results

•  The expected project completion date was delayed due to the high levels of water in the wells.
•  There was one more benefit than I expected that the women's social status will increase as the result of creating a small business and supporting the family.
•  The total budget went over the expected costs.
•  Other actual results meet the expected result.

Measuring Results / Impact

The main method of evaluating the project results was interviews. Wende Drolma and the villager leader Duojey Renching interviewed the villagers. Duojey Renching supervised the project. Wende Drolma repeatedly visited the project site and supervised the quality of the project. In total, we interviewed five people: Three female and two male villagers. The first interviewee was a woman named Tsering Yumtso. She is around 45years old. I interviewed her on December 26 th 2005. The second interviewee was a woman named Donje. She is forty years old. I interviewed her on December 26 th 2005. The third interviewee was a man named Chenlin Dajie. He is around forty years old. I interviewed him on December 27 th 2005. The fourth was a man named Quzhou. He is around fifty and I interviewed him on December 27 th 2005. the Fifth interviewee was a female student named Zhaxi Drolma. She was 17 years old. I interviewed her on December 27 th 2005.

Examples / Case studies:

•  Tsering Yumtso is a woman who has very poor health. Despite this, she is responsible for doing all of the chores in her home. She has five children, but they are all in school, and do not have time to help her with house chores. She said that before this project, she had to go at least twice every day to fetch water. Because of this, she suffers from acute waist and back pain. Sometimes she asks her daughter, who is in school, to help her to fetch water in the evening. But her daughter is very young, and it is hard for her to carry two buckets of water. Therefore, by the time that she comes back from fetching water, it is usually almost dark and she has to stay up until eleven or twelve in the evening to finish her homework. This situation makes Tsering sad and she usually tries to manage the water problem by herself, so that her daughter won't have to help her. She is very thankful to The Canada Fund, and told me (Wanda) that now she has more time to rest, and circumambulate the local Mani Wall. She does not need to ask her daughter to help her anymore. And even if she does, it will only take the young girl about five minutes to complete the task.

•  Donje, is a woman who is over forty years old. She is responsible for all of the family house chores. She married into her husband's family and has a very old mother who is incapable of moving. She has two husbands who are brothers, and two daughters who are still too young to help with the house chores. Therefore, nobody in the family helps her with house chores. She said that she has to get up very early every morning to fetch water and then prepare breakfast for the family. After this, she has to make breakfast for her grandmother and feed her the breakfast. Then she has to dress up her two daughters. By the time that she is finished with these tasks, it is usually almost time to prepare lunch. After making lunch she has to clean the room and wash or mend clothes and go again to fetch water. She is never free to do anything other than house chores. But since the project, she is very happy because she does not need to spend a lot of time fetching water. She said that she wants to open a small shop beside her house and start a business. She asked to her husband for permission, and to her surprise he agreed. She was very happy when I interviewed her. She gives thousands of thanks to The Canada Fund. She said that this project has really given her a new life.

•  Zhaxi Drolma, is a student in middle school. She has to help her mother to fetch water every day after school. When I interviewed her, she said that she was very happy that now she doesn't need to go far to fetch water, and instead she can do her homework. She is very glad that from now on, she will have more time to study instead of working. She said: “this year I am taking the college entrance examination and I want to cherish every moment to study hard. And I know if I fail then my family can't support my education anymore. It was bothersome to fetch water every day, and now that I don't have to do it I can study for the exam and be sure to pass. Thank you to the Canada Fund, they really helped me lot. Thanks again to The Canada Fund.”

•  Chenlin Dajie, is the head of a family. He is about forty-eight years old. There are eight people in the family: His wife, five children, his mother, and him. He said that he knew his wife was doing a lot of housework. She was always moaning from her backaches. He wants to help her, but all he can do is ask her to take some medicine. He said that the elder two children are boys and they never do house work to help her. He feels that it is bothersome to ask his sons to do house works to help their mother. And his daughters are still too young to help her with heavy house work, such as fetching water. Therefore, he always felt very sorry for her. Now he is very happy that the Canada Fund has donated money to build the wells. He said that he wants to say thanks from the bottom of his heart to the Canada Fund as a representative of the whole village. He said that he hopes that The Canada Fund will last forever like a mountain and be as wealthy as the sea.

•  Quzhou is the head of a family and he has divorced with his wife. Now he lives with his sister, his mother, and his son. His mother is quite old and his sister is the only one who handles all the house chores. He said that for a long time he has wished that there was a well. He always felt very sorry for his sister. She never complained to him, but he knew that life was really hard for her. He wanted to help her, but he could not help her with those house chores. He said: “It is really very kind of The Canada to have such a deep concern for us. We hope that everyone in The Canada Fund will live forever, and be healthy forever.”

Gender Equality

This project has had a very immediate and direct benefit for women, because women are responsible for fetching water. There has been a big decrease in the amount of labor that women need to do. Women have gained more free time because they no longer need to fetch water.

Also, by reducing the amount of house work that women need to do, they have more time to do other things. Some of them are starting small businesses. In this way, they are supporting their families' incomes, which will make their social status go up.

In addition, this project has also had more subtle yet important effects on the target population. A young Tibetan woman, Wende Droma, was the manager of this project and played the central role in this project's design and implementation. By managing this project, she has set a model of a young woman who is capable of managing a large project. Her ability encourages the villagers to send their daughters to school by demonstrating the capabilities of a young educated woman.

Thank You Letter

Dear Canada Fund:

First of all, we want to express our deep appreciation of The Canada Fund for your concern and compassion towards our people, and especially towards our village. We live in the undeveloped part of Qinghai Province. Our annual income on average is below 2,000 RMB per year. We have always wanted to dig a well, but this dream did not come true until your organization donated the funds.

We once spoke to the local government to ask for help, but nothing happened due to a lack of money. So this matter has been sitting unresolved for several years. We feel very grateful and honored to get help from your organization.

This project has improved our living conditions by an impressive amount. First, we have more leisure time to do other things than fetch water every day, especially the local women. These women are very thankful to Canada Fund. As one woman said, with tears in her eyes, “I am very thankful to the Canada Fund. I thought that in this world nobody understood my situation, but I am glad that there is some one who does understand and has given me a hand. I hope that the people who have helped with this project will live forever and that the Canada Fund will last forever.” This villager has no husband and she has to take care of three children and her 75 year old mother. The local women are all very appreciative to Canada Fund.

We also believe that this project can help us with our financial income. Some of the families are planning to plant some vegetables next summer, which we can water with the easily accessible wells. By growing vegetables, we can save some money for medicine or other necessities.

Overall, we all want to express our deep appreciation to The Canada Fund. We are honored to have been considered by The Canada Fund, and we will always pray for all the best for The Canada Fund, and send hundreds of thanks to Canada Fund.

Sincerely,

The people of Zarshi Ke village.

Receipts

November 12 th 2005, we bought 30 bags of concrete from Daying No 1 factory for 35 yuan per unit, and a total of 1,050 yuan. Signed Duojey Rinching.

November 12 th 2005, the concrete was transported using a middle-sized truck twice for a total of 80yuan.

On November 19 th 2005, ten trucks of stone were purchased for 220 per unit and a total of 2,200yuan.

The stone was transported ten times for 50yuan per time and a total of 500yuan

Four tractors of sand were hired for digging wells for 85yuan per tractor and a total of 340 yuan.

The transportation fee for four tractors for 30yuan per trip and a total of 120yuan.

November 29 th 2005, two 850 water pumps were bought from the Prefecture's Agricultural Machine Factory for 500 yuan per unit and a total of 1000yuan.

November 29 th 2005, 45meters of water pipe and electronic wire was bought from the Prefecture's Agricultural Machine Factory for a total of 200yuan.

December 29th, 2005. 120m of rope for 3.5 yuan per meter was purchased from the Prefecture's Agricultural Machine Factory for a total of 420yuan.

November 29 th 2005, the transportation fee for the water pump was 40 yuan.

December 19 th 2005. the film was developed. The Film and the development fee was 36 yuan.

Taxi fee for the visiting Mr Zhu to sign the contract, two round trips

Taxi fee for withdrawal of the money from the bank one round trip.

Contract for the wells, the skill workers agree on per mater 200rmb for 40m. And the money will be paid after the completion of the wells.

Original Proposal

Project Location:
This project will be located in Zarshi Ke Village, Geygu Township, Yushu County, which is 890kms from Xining City. This village consists of 86 households, with a total of 636 people. 40 households are located on the top of a slope and the rest of the households are located at the foot of the slope. The project will benefit 31 of the households located on the top of the slope. In total 210 people will benefit: 116 women and girls and 94 men and boys.

Zarshi Ke is an agricultural village. However, most of the households own no land. The amount of land owned by villagers has decreased significantly in recent years due to poverty. When faced with family emergencies, such as medical problems, several households have sold their land. Under these circumstances they cannot sell the land for a high price, but they have no choice. At present, the village has less than 50 mu of land, which is shared by approximately 13 households.

Every summer, the rainwater from the Zasong Mountain flows into the valley that leads directly into the village. Every year since 2003, rainstorms have caused floods in Zarshi Ke Village. After last year's flood, the government built a dam to prevent the rainwater from flowing into the village. It is not yet certain whether the dam will solve the flooding problem. Because rainstorms wash away some of the fields every year, the villagers can't get a good harvest. Prior to 2003, the fields yielded an average of 10 sacks of barley per year. Now they yield 5 or 6 sacks per year. Because farming does not produce enough food to sustain one family for one year, each household typically sends 2 people outside to do construction work. This outside work brings in about 450 yuan per family per year.

Since this is a historically agricultural village no households own livestock.

Project Goals:

The overall purpose of this project is to improve the lives of the villagers in Zarshi Ke Village

The main goal of this project is to supply Zarshi Ke Village with a clean and dependable drinking water supply.

Zarshi Ke village is situated on a high slope. The only stable water source is the Zarshi River, which is 2000 meters away from the village. However, this river water is not really potable for two reasons: First, in summer, rainstorms wash all the soils from the field into the river. The river turns a brownish color, but nonetheless, the villagers drink it. Second, the upper part of the river flows through a park, which is situated right above the village. The villagers swim in this part of the river during the summer. So while some people are swimming in the river upstream, the girls are fetching the water downstream.

At the bottom of the slope, 600 meters from the village, there is a small spring. However, it is only 3 feet wide and it dries up in the winter. Thus, the villagers do not have a clean or dependable drinking water supply.

Supplying clean and dependable drinking water to Zarshi Ke Village will improve the villagers' health

Right now, the villagers suffer from perpetual diarrhea and stomachaches; which pose a vital threat to children. Between 2004 and 2005, 198 children made medical appointments to treat diarrhea related health problems, and 41 children made appointments to treat stomachaches. According to the local doctor, every month approximately 80 people get sicknesses which are most likely caused by unclean water. Last year, two infants died because of serious diarrhea. Both of them went to see the doctor and tried some medicine. But one of them died two weeks after receiving treatment, and the other one died about four days after treatment.

Supplying clean and dependable drinking water to Zarshi Ke Village will improve the villagers' safety.

When women and girls go to fetch water from the small river at the bottom of the village slope, they often encounter many problems. The path down the slope is very dangerous. First, it is steep, and very difficult for the women to climb carrying two baskets of water. Second, it is narrow; only one person can walk on it at a time. Third, it is slippery. It is always very dangerous for women and girls to fetch water on rainy an snowy days. On raining days, the water washes away the road. On snowy days, the path gets covered with ice and becomes extremely slippery. Under such conditions many women have injured themselves. It is common for women to slip and fall while carrying two full baskets of water. Wanda, the applicant, has experienced this firsthand: this winter, (January 2005) Wanda herself went to fetch water on a snowy morning. She slipped and fell with two baskets of water and hurt her left leg. For four days, she had to remain in bed, and for 15 days, she could not walk well.

In addition, many women suffer from constant pain in their shoulders and back. Some of the young girls cannot straighten their backs, due to carrying water every day since the age of 7. Almost all of the women in the village suffer from backaches, soon after reaching the age of thirty. They cannot sleep well at the night and they cannot even sit straight for half an hour.

Supplying clean and dependable drinking water to Zarshi Ke Village will improve the lives of women and girls

Women and girls have to spend lot of time fetching water. Every morning they have to get up at six o'clock to go and fetch water. For 9 months of the year, when the small river closest to the village is dry, they have to walk 2km to another river and then carry two baskets of water back home. Someone from each household has to go three times a day to fetch water. Therefore, every day they have to spend three hours fetching water.

There are total of 378 children (under 18) in the village, 198 are girls and 180 are boys. Only fifty-six children attended school, among them there are only twenty girls. When families consider sending children to school, they mostly think of the boys, because the girls have to do house chores, especially fetching water. Therefore, the girls cannot attend the school and those who do don't have enough times to study. In addition to helping more girls attend school, the project will create relaxation time for women. They won't have to get up early in the morning and spend three hours fetching water. They can instead use this time to relax or attend the villages' morning activities.

Supplying clean and dependable drinking water to Zarshi Ke Village will improve the villagers living conditions.

The project will support family subsistence. Every year, each household has to spend an average of 200 yuan on vegetables. However with the completion of this project, they will be able to plant some vegetables in their own yards, and water them regularly. In this case they can save the money that they now use to spend on vegetables. They can eat more vegetables instead of eating Zamba (barley flour) every day.

Description of the project:

I am applying for the funding of two wells for the village. 15 households will share one well and 16 households will share the other one.

The steps of the project:

1: Discuss the materials that are required for this project with the village leader and collect the information. (Already completed in January 2005)

2: Apply for funding to cover the cost of the project.

3: Once the funding is secured, hold a meeting with the villagers and organize a village well caretaking committee.

4: Collect the local contribution.

5: Purchase the materials for the project:

The stone and sand will be purchased from the nearby villages.

The water pump will be purchased in The Prefecture Agricultural Machine Factory, which is located in the township, due to the high quality of the water pump and the three years guaranty of the water pump.

The concrete will be purchased from The Prefecture Trade Company.

The rope will also be purchased in The Prefecture Trade Company, due to the good quality of their products.

6: Hire truck and transport the materials to the village.

7: Hire skilled workers in prefecture town to start digging the well.

8: Hold a meeting with the villagers after the well is completed. Clarify the responsibility of the villagers and the well caretaking committee.

9: After15 days, interview the households to collect the information for the final report.

10: turn in final report.

Detailed budget:

Local Contribution:

Timeframe:
Timeline: from the time that proposal is approved, this project will take approximately 34 days.

1 day: hold a village meeting

5 days: transport stones from nearby village

2 days: transport sand from nearby village

2 days: purchase and trasnport concrete from township

1 day: Purchase and transport water pump and rope

20 days: dig well

3 days: connect the water pump to the well and build protective cover

1 day: hold second village meeting to clarify responsibilities of well comitee and to announce completion of project.

Sustainability
The Well caretaking committee will be responsible for the sustainability of this project. This project is highly sustainable because all of the villagers will benefit from the project. They will be responsible for cleaning the well monthly and doing the repairs. The materials are being purchased from a good company that guarantees the water pumps for three years. The water pumps will last about ten years. After the warranty for the pumps runs out, the villagers will pay for repairs. In addition, the workers are trustworthy, because they are skilled well digging workers. The skilled workers who we will hire have already successfully completed 3 well projects in nearby villages. After the well is completed, if we think it is not well built, we can ask them to rebuild it.

Additional information:
Additional Benefits:

One secondary benefit of this project is that it is being managed and supervised by women. Wanda is from Zarshi ke, and by managing and supervising a project that is for the benefit of all villagers, she will set a positive example. Her ability to contribute to the community in such a positive way will help rid villagers of the idea that girls are only good for housework and are not worth educating. In managing this project, not only will she set a positive example for her villagers, but also for her fellow students in the English training Program in Qinghai Normal University. Her example will encourage other female students to take on similar small scale development projects.