Iris’ Story

“This project got me asking myself and people around me, what are we willing to notice in the world and how much are we willing to do something about it?”
– Iris Canham, Project Leader

Removing a simple barrier in the way water is collected and that is carrying 20 litres on the head versus collecting and rolling 90 litres of the ground had such a huge impact on the number of hours in a day that would have otherwise been dedicated to carrying and colleting water. When I saw that women were spending an average of two hours less on water collection, or those who spent more time on water collection was because they either expanded their gardens or expanded their care for the elderly by helping to collect water for them, I was moved. I saw how many women had their time freed up women to be engaged in other activities that would increase their household income and economic activities. I was equally moved by the number of women who reported that they were helping their neighbour. Furthermore, the reigniting of a women’s group committed to home-based care because they are collectively able to plant more vegetables and collect more water which puts them in a better position to provide home based care for those who need palliative care and those caring for the aged.

Beginning the project, I imagined that we would have 300 women in KwaZulu-Natal gearing up to be part of the project. I did not provide a mental space for the participation of any more than 10 men but their numbers exceeded my imagination! I thought being a gender related project and that it was related to water collection and food security that men would not have much of interest. I was surprised by the initial sign up and seeing how many men and boys enjoyed rolling the hippo roller. I don’t think that many human beings are aware of the many things that happen around us, the injustice, the inequalities, the things we do, say and believe that are not progressive to the society in which we live. Prior to the Roll a Hippo Foundation, I had not thought the number of man hours wasted on this task. Prior to this project, I had not taken the time to work out the average hours wasted per week on a group of 300 with a family average of 6 people and the overall impact on a community and a country. I had not thought deep enough about the injustice. I too saw water collection as a task or chore. Many times as a child when I collected water on my grandmothers rural homestead, we played hopscotch and other games at the central tap, a bit of recreation in a town with no water and electricity. However, I only carried a 5 litre bucket, a very short distance and only had to do that once or twice a year. It was not my daily chore. It provides new insight and deepened compassion when you realize that for many women and girls it is a duty. There is no fun and games in it. It is a task before school and after school. In all my years of community development I was never involved in a study that brought water access and the barriers to such light. This project got me asking myself and people around me, what are we willing to notice in the world and how much are we willing to do something about it? For years I have not “seen” the chore and the people behind it. In a moving testimony a lady exclaimed “ You have seen us. Thank you for seeing us” and I knew in my heart what she meant. My blinkers are off.