During the past months, a team from HSBC Malta visited the Northern Region of Ghana to see WaterAid’s projects first-hand. Astrid Micallef Saliba shares the team’s diary for readers.

Photo: Anton_Ivanov/shutterstock.com

Day 1

Kawula (Hello)

We started the journey this morning at 5.45am, followed by a two-hour, bumpy and dusty drive. Finally, we reached Salaga Senior High School, in the East Gonja district. After a short introductory meeting with the Headmaster, we entered the school hall with more than 2,000 students, all dressed in bright pink uniforms.

A full programme was prepared by the school and its students, including traditional dances, speeches by dignitaries, and drama performances on water, sanitation and hygiene.  After this warm welcome, WaterAid Ghana took us around the school grounds. We were shown the biogas system, toilet blocks and the rainwater harvesting tanks – technologies that WaterAid has implemented under this project.

We ended our day by interviewing members of the school’s Health Club, made up of over 100 students.  The impact this project has had on the students’ lives made us feel immensely proud.

Day 2

Asankushund (Thank you)

Today it was another early start, leaving at 5.45am to hit the road for our second day with the school.

When we got there, the water was filthy and full of insects. It was shocking to know that people have no choice but to drink this

Before the WaterAid project, students had to travel an 8km round trip to fetch dirty water. This morning we experienced this journey first-hand. The heat was already unbearable at 8.30am. It took us just under an hour to reach the Kpembi dam. When we arrived, we tried to lift a jerry can filled with water (weighing approximately 20kg). We could hardly lift it from the ground, never mind carry it all the way back to the school.

Hawa Tijani washes her hands with clean water at a handwashing station in a block of latrines at Salaga Senior High School.

Afterwards, we returned to the school where we interviewed the teachers and headmaster.  The teachers also praised the project. They told us that since the Wash facilities were installed, they’ve added an additional lesson into the school day, as students have more energy to focus on their studies.

In the afternoon, we painted a large mural on one of the exterior walls of the school with the assistance of the students, representing life. Equipped with paints and brushes, we set about painting the branches whilst students made handprints representing the leaves.

We ended our day by singing a Maltese song, accompanied by a spontaneous chorus from the students. As we left the students told us, “Asankushund, Malta!”

The HSBC Malta team pose with the handpainted mural made with the help of Salaga Senior High School student.

Day 3

Together we can make things happen

In the morning we visited Kulnyevula, a community where WaterAid has worked since 2012 through the HSBC Water Programme. We visited the new water kiosk and could see the difference that the project is making. We also saw a number of household bathrooms that were spotlessly clean. It was wonderful to see the clear difference that the project is making to people’s lives.Before leaving this community we visited the Chief and he thanked WaterAid and HSBC. He said: “One man alone in the world cannot achieve but together we can make things happen.”

Daamata Abdulai carrying a container of water home from a water kiosk built by WaterAid.

In the afternoon we visited another community, Kakpayili-Shizugu, where WaterAid has recently started work.  Meeting this community was an emotional experience. The committee chairman invited us to visit the dam, approximately 1km away, where they currently collect water.  When we got there, the water was filthy and full of insects. Cows and dogs were drinking from the same water source. It was shocking to know that people have no choice but to drink this.

After that, families were kind enough to open their doors and invite us into their homes.  The community members showed us the household latrines they are building, and we visited the water kiosk which is under construction. The kiosk is due to be completed soon and will undoubtedly transform people’s lives. As we reflect on an emotional day, we remembered the words of the chief – together we can make things happen.

Janika Agius showing the quality of the water from a dam in the community of Kakpayili-Shizugu.

The HSBC group was led by Astrid Micallef Saliba. It included Trudy Vella Gera, Daniel Grech Avellino, Jean Paul Attard, Amanda Azzopardi and Janika Agius.

The HSBC Water Programme is a five-year, $100m partnership with Earthwatch, Water -Aid and WWF, three NGOs that rank among the world’s most respected environmental and sustainable development organisations. The programme also funds charities managing local water projects proposed by HSBC employees. These partnerships provide the necessary scale to deliver the powerful combination of water provision, protection and education, benefiting communities in need, enabling people to prosper and driving economic development and growth.