Published in October 2025

Ala Ano and Goyti Narka are two women from Bena Tsemay district, Bile Village in Ethiopia. As mothers with families, the water situation in their community weighed on their minds. Lives that were marked with struggle and drought are replaced with hope and abundance after their sand dam project. 

Can you tell me your name and a bit about yourself?

Ala: Hello, my name is Ala Ano. I am a 26-year-old mother and farmer living in Bena Tsemay District, Bile Village, Ethiopia.

Goyti: My name is Goyti Narka. I am 45 years old, I have three daughters, two sons and I also live in Bile Village. I am an agro-pastorialist.

Why were you interested in supporting the sand dam project in your area?

Goyti: Simply put, the biggest problem in our area was a shortage of water. I feel like before the sand dam, life for us was consumed by the search for water.

Can you describe what life was like before the sand dam?

Ala: We regularly faced a shortage of rain. This caused our crops to fail and food scarcity. Collecting water dominated my days and left us with little energy for other, equally important, work. Livestock also suffered, cattle became weak, milk production dropped and when they are made to walk for long distances to water, their health gets worse.

Goyti: During the dry season, I used to walk for more than six hours to fetch water for my family and my livestock. I remember the conflicts that frequently arose with people from neighbouring kebeles (local wards) during the drier spells when everyone competed for access to this precious resource. Everyone was so desperate to fetch water for their animals. The water we collected was not safe and I watched my children suffer from waterborne diseases.

What trainings and supplies were provided by Sand Dams Worldwide and our partner in Ethiopia, Action for Development (AFD)?

"We were provided with drought-tolerant and short maturing crops to grow, to ensure harvests even in the harshest of conditions, seedlings such as banana, papaya and mango. Some others were provided with chickens to improve household nutrition and income from eggs. We were also given training on sanitation and hygiene (WASH)."

Ala Ano, farmer from Bile Village in Ethiopia.

Can you tell us how farming and income has changed since the sand dam project in your area?

Goyti: Using techniques from the agriculture training, I was able to make my farm more productive. Today, I grow vegetables and cassava that both feed my family and generate income at the market. Regarding my chickens, half of them are sold, while the rest are consumed at home and used for eggs. This has significantly improved our income and diet. The introduction of drought-tolerant crops has provided food; there was one particularly abundant harvest that not only secured food for the family but also generated ETB 25,000 (around £125) in income, which I reinvested in five goats. 

Ala: I raise chickens for their eggs and grow drought-tolerant fruit trees using sand dam water which has improved our ability to grow food and helped us earn an income. My 10 chickens from this project have also become a reliable source of nutrition and money. We sell eggs and through this, I’ve saved some money which I plan to spend on school materials for our son, while still feeding him the eggs we have.

Have there been any other benefits beyond farming and income?

Ala: I can say my health and hygiene practices have greatly improved. I now have enough water to wash my hands before food preparation, we use safe water for everything, and we now use a toilet. As a result, my family is healthier with fewer waterborne related sicknesses. Beyond my household, I have become a volunteer champion in sanitation, hygiene and farming. This means I have mobilised three other women in my community to start backyard vegetable farming, I pass on teachings on WASH and I help people through leading by example.

"The greatest community achievement is building resilience against drought and reducing conflict over water. The once dry land is becoming greener, supporting my community, livestock, wild animals, birds and bees!"

Goyti Narka,agro-pastoralist from Bile Village in Ethiopia.

Do you have any final words regarding the project?

Goyti: This project has provided more than resources; it has given me confidence and hope for the future.

Ala: I am not worried about harsh changes in the weather. We have the sand dam that provides water for both people and livestock, even in drought. We can maintain our health, hygiene and livelihoods.

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Please donate what you can and help to empower vulnerable women and girls in drylands to transform their own lives with sand dams and clean water