2. Myanmar Dala Township Project Visit

An unforgettable day, difficult to convey, an experience that causes you to try and take stock every few minutes at the enormity of what is going on, while at the same time being the most normal and human thing in the world, clean water, sanitation, communities getting together to claim their rights and work together to obtain them.

I contacted the Australian Embassy in Myanmar over a month before the trip to invite them to meet with me and perhaps visit the Dala community, across the river from Yangon, where Habitat for Humanity Australia and Myanmar are working, with the funding support of Australian Aid, and the expertise of the YMCA team on the ground. 

Together we travelled to the community and sat with the community committees that have been facilitated by the project: the Development committee; the Water/Sanitation and Hygiene committee; and two Schools/Parent-Teacher Association committees to hear how the project has impacted their lives and how they plan to continue to improve their community together.

New perimeter fencing, kerbside barriers and concrete steps with wooden jetty extension to a key water supply pond have been built as part of the project to reduce contamination of the water.

The CLTS (Community Led Total Sanitation) workshops are being rolled out across the community as a result of this project, with sub-groups identified neighbourhood by neighbourhood, of around 10 houses at a time, to understand how their community is managing their health risks and changing behaviours to collectively benefit all of the families.

Local government authority representative speaks at the Development committee.  The participation of local representatives is an important ingredient for the community's future, with the local authority supporting the project by finding suitable land for collective toilets that the project is about to build.

Australian Aid (DFAT) and Habitat for Humanity representatives were presented with flowers by one of the community committees.

Right now we are building improved water and sanitation infrastructure in the community and in schools, but through this physical work we are focused on strengthening community organisation and awareness, training trainers in hygienic practices, disaster risk reduction, garbage management and supporting communities to engage as a collective with local authorities to ensure their rights of access to water and good health are being addressed.  2000 students have been trained in clean hands, clean toilets, clean food and clean water, 1000 have been trained in disaster preparedness, with many more hundreds trained within the community itself.

It is literally spine tingling to listen to women whose empowerment is palpable expressing how they used not be listened to, but supported by community gender inclusiveness workshops, are being heard and are now leading committees to address the specific needs of women as part of the overall community development taking place.

The Australian Embassy staff were highly knowledgeable about community development and water/sanitation programs and were extremely valuable to the success of the day in Dala.