Running Water & Destroying the Village’s Heart
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During my time in East Africa I also helped develop a running water system in order to improve the quality of sanitation and eradicate malaria. With the help of a wise old man of the tribe, I came to realize, to my chagrin, that this project, however well intentioned, also destroyed one of the most important institutions of the village . . . the Well, which forever had been the heart and gathering place of the community. It was painfully ironic.
My heart was in the right place,
to improve the quality of sanitation
and eradicate malaria
Yet, with my running water system
I hurt the village's heart, its gathering
place --the well
The community which I wanted to keep robust
Had dissipated, a deep and painful realization