I grew up in a village in the East of Turkey which two decades ago suffered from drought. Thanks to some foundations and organisations which fundraising money helped in building wells with pumps to provide clean water for those in need. Collecting water from the water wells was a daily routine for all, mainly women and children. Armed with buckets and going to collect the most crucial need was a great contribution to our family. While my mother was cooking, cleaning and doing all the housework, my brothers were helping our father in the farm. Let alone housework, she was even creating time to help my father which is still amazes me.
I remember the fun we had with my friends on the way to water well in the morning. It was as well as the way to socialize with friends and relatives. Waiting for hours and hours -having only three wells for lots of families- in the queue was a great opportunity to see the loved ones. Because we barely had time for our family, we couldn’t host people in our houses. While our mothers talking to each other and often whining about their husbands, we were playing and running around the water well. Laughs, jokes and amusing pictures remained on my mind alongside with the back-breaking routine.
I have always questioned why we were doing this every single day, specifically on the way back home! The bucket was heavy for a child, so it was the times to complaining but in silent! The manner we have taught was not allowed us to complain whatsoever, instead, we needed to find a way to adjust to reality, to find a solution even. My daily journey was not only about me, but also for other people. An elderly couple was living quite close to our home and as well we were carrying water to them. Helping people in need was the responsibility as if it’s an instinct. No questioning needed it is the cultural gene amongst the rural communities.
I was asking myself: “should not we be at school instead of that great time-consuming action we are doing repeatedly every day? The daily journey to the Well was affecting my parents, and their concerns about our education. Although this situation was the biggest obstacle and challenge to overcome for all the villagers. The desperation that my parents felt was heartbreaking and was bringing tears to my eyes and still does. Seeing them trying to survive and consuming only how much we need was truly educating.
When I look at the current problems across the world, I see the Climate Change issue which is barely started to discuss but we, villagers, have already seen the impacts from the very beginning. When the climate started to change and its effects became visible, our lives became even more difficult, especially in the summer as the lack of water became unbearable: on us, the cattle, and also on the crops and the soil that are not generous anymore. My parents figured that we can no longer live in our village healthily and alongside our education demands, we decided to move to Istanbul.
Moving in an enormous and beautiful city was a turning point for all of us. Furthermore, having a tap inside! the house seemed hard to believe. All I need to do was turn the tap on and surprise, water was dripping! “No more Water Wells” and “No More Walking for Water”!
I was overwhelmed by the spare time I had! I wouldn't have imagined such a simplicity if I haven't seen it. I've already loved the city from the very first day so my family. The following days we realized that people buy drinking water. Once again, we have faced a challenge that is related to the first one. I still remember my parents' discussions on the budget for drinking water. Our neighbor was not affording it at all, as they had to find a way for their son’s university education! Living with a limited budget for only essential needs was dreadful for many of us in the city.
Twenty years later and the safe drinking water issue is still a challenge! Antonio Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) said: "By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water-stressed conditions”.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we mandatorily quarantined and paused ourselves. It has given us the time to read more than usual. Despite our casualties, we acknowledged the time we were consuming unnecessarily. During the lockdown, particularly with the striking rise in drinking water prices, we had time to reconsider our daily actions and behaviors, and it gave me another reason to read it more about Water situation worldwide and possible solutions.
A thorough reading on the United Nations websites and documents, particularly the history of the current Water Action Decade, encouraged me further to look at the work done by many other foundations working on water. I came across many initiatives that work on providing either water-well or sanitization for rural and urban areas. What happened by now regrettably is only temporary solutions. Over the years, the large number of organizations have assumed that it would be sufficient to build water wells, but they have not acknowledged or foreseen the following steps.
Despite how much we appreciated their actions, however, the “Walking For Water” is still an issue that has not been solved! This is of course in addition to water-borne diseases, violence among other challenges of desertification and drought! The further readings brought to my attention that the world is relying on groundwater in cities, agriculture and even for swimming pools! How long groundwater will last? What about our ecosystem? It seems that if not dying from COVID-19 and other possible future Pandemics, by 2025 -which is not that far- we will face death because of Hunger and Thirst!
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed”, said Mahatma Gandhi. He further said, "The future depends on what we do in present." What we need Today is a sustainable, renewable, accessible solutions for safe drinking water - not only for us but for generations to come!
My thorough searching on google more about it led me to a new Global Program which has a Turkish name “CANSU”. It struck me from the very beginning because the name "Cansu" is originated from Anatolia meaning Life is Water, and it represents the aim and objective of this Global Program. This “Cansu Global” has what I have been looking for: First, No More Walking For Water Second: Sustainable Solution and Third, It is green technology, works everywhere, for everyone without leaving anyone behind!
Solving one crucial issue empowers us to improve living standards, health, sanitation, hygiene, education, economy, etc. We should all be paying attention to HRH El-Sharifa Fatima El-Hashemite words: "If you look closely to water, if you know the role of water in social and economic development, if you learn to appreciate the beauty of water and how to live with harmony and respect for fellow humans and nature.. if you understand that water is the source of life, like women, then you will value Water, Equality, and its result: Peace and Prosperity for all".
Are we going to see Cansu Atmospheric Water Generators everywhere? Am I going to see this in my village? We have air after all haven't we? Are women going to start working to help their husbands? Are girls going to schools instead of carrying water? Are we going to see Cansu International in Turkey and everywhere? I hope yes!
"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." - Rumi
