Carolina's story

Fifteen year old Carolina lives in the community of Elcolbere Aldea, which is about four kilometers east of Alieu town, south of the capital, Dili.

Carolina, who has eight brothers and sisters, studies at the Junior High School in the village.

Like all households in the community, Carolina’s family collects their water from unprotected springs and streams.  Twice a day she helps her mother collect water for the family.

The nearest water source is an unprotected spring down a steep slope, about 200 meters away from her home.  The family uses about 60 liters of water a day for cooking, cleaning and drinking which means Carolina and her mother spend around three hours each day just collecting water.

I know that this is not a clean toilet but I have no choice. A clean toilet would have water for flushing and no flies.

Carolina and her family often get sick with diarrhea as the water source is unprotected and open to contamination.  The situation is worse during the dry season when the source can dry up completely forcing Carolina and her mother to walk even further to collect water.

Carolina’s family does not have a hygienic toilet so they use an open pig shed, which is common in Timor-Leste.

“I know that this is not a clean toilet.” Carolina states, “but I have no choice.  A clean toilet would be one where there was water for flushing and no flies.

“If a new water system is built, we will be very happy as it will save lot of time to collect water.  Then there will be more time to clean the house and look after my little brothers and sisters. I would also have more time to read.”

WaterAid in Timor-Leste’s program in Aileu hopes to provide Carolina’s village, and another nearby, with shared community tapstands, which will provide safe water close to home.

The integrated water and sanitation program also aims to provide all families in these villages with clean, safe toilets and hygiene education in order to reduce the incidence of easily preventable illnesses.