2003-05-21 - 11:50 a.m.
Hashar. I was called at home several weeks back by our local authority, Hassan. He is the mayor of Xisarak. Our local District Governor, and Hassan’s boss, donated 500 meters of pipe to the Almazor section of Xisarak village. The Governor has a home in our neighborhood and he wants running water.
Hassan heard from the grapevine that I could apply for funding for special projects. After an informal meeting at the taxi stand the next morning we scheduled a meeting. Kasimjon accompanied me and I listened to the plan. Almazor wants running water.
Currently three taps continuously throughout the village. They act as congregation points for the women, where they carry water back home and “mish mish,” or gossip. Among these women is my host-mother and sister. There are almost 1,200 women in Almazor who make multiple daily trips to the water taps to fill buckets, carrying them home. Marufa’s hands are crusty and sunbeaten. To shake my host-mother’s hand can be an intimidating exchange, and a sad commentary on her life. We sat for tea recently, and she looked at her hands. Then she talked about her housework. “Before, I was a doctor’s assistant in Tashkent. At Tashmi Institute, the large medical school in the capital.” Work at home grew as the economy fell after Independence. Now, every morning my mother milk’s 12 liters from two cows, feeds the chickens, cooks breakfast, cleans and washes. Anything requiring water means she makes a trip to the taps, about 150 meters away. “Sanoat (Kasimjon’s wife), her hands are pretty,” my mother said. “But they have cows now. They will look like these soon,” she predicted. Then she grew silent. “Kevin, we need running water,” she finally said. “I know… I know.” I replied. That exchange sealed my commitment to the project.
With 1000 meters of pipe, taps, and water meters, the village could connect to the central pipeline running from the mountains and bring water to 152 homes. The project was sound. The village would provide the work, half the pipe, and all of the coordination and planning. So, last month I encouraged Kasimjon to write a proposal for Peace Corps Partnership Program. A little hesitant, he provided a rough draft and answers to several questions. Hassan wrote a budget, obtained letters from local women, and my students translated the documents. About three weeks back, I submitted the project. Two weeks ago, funding was secured, 2,490,000 Soum, or $2,490 from Peace Corps Partnership Program. Next week, work begins in Xisarak for a new water system, connecting 152 houses with running water. Some PCVs may attend and we plan to make a video of the project. If we can make copies, I’ll send a few to the States.
