23 June 2009
Thousands of Brazilians are receiving improved water and sanitation facilities as a result of a pioneering venture between Tearfund partners and local authorities.
This life-improving work is benefiting the semi-arid town of Antonio Martins in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, in the northeast of the country, an area where there has traditionally been little in the way of centrally-provided services for the thinly spread population.
Tearfund partner Diaconia has received vital support from the municipal government in Antonio Martins to increase the supply of drinking water and sanitation to the locals.
The council has provided transport for building materials, technical advisers and help with building a 24,000-litre water storage tank and now construction is underway of more than 700 bathrooms.
Diaconia has helped the council authorities realise Antonio Martins does not require grand schemes to make a serious difference to the lives of its people.
These saplings will mature to provide flood protection for this farmer's crops. Photo: Diaconia/Tearfund
The mayor of Antonio Martins Municipality, José Júlio Fernandes, said, `When I realised that Diaconia’s work had the potentional to reach beyond what we can do, I thought it was a marvellous initiative.
`We need to provide water for rural people and we also need to provide the means for production to flourish.
`The solution is not to leave the semi-arid region but rather to create the means to live within its environment.’
This work by Diaconia is funded by Tearfund and the European Commission. Elsewhere in Rio Grande do Norte, this finance is also helping protect farmers from livelihood-threatening regular droughts.
With Diaconia’s help, farmer Antonio Jales, who lives on the banks of the River Umari, was able to plant native species such as banana, palm, guava trees.
They protect the river banks from the rising water as well as his cultivated area from flooding, securing his livelihood.