Burbax
raised of $500,000 needed
Spread across the highland plains of northwest Ethiopia, the people in the village of Burbax are nationally famous. Their reputation of musical mastery is well deserved. When they aren’t working their fields, they are playing instruments, singing, and dancing. Often, children will hone their musical skills and then join traveling groups of musicians that travel from town to town, performing for a living.
Village Projects
- 19 water projects
12 hand dug wells, 4 spring protection developments, 1 rainwater harvesting system, 2 rehabilitation projects - 6 school buildings
24 furnished classrooms, 8 latrines - 1 health clinic
equipment and furnishings, 1 latrine - 365 micro-finance loans
Burbax Need
The need in Burbax is great and multifaceted and extends across all major sectors in which Glimmer works. At its core is the extent of the water crisis in the village. Currently, the village has more than 5000 people without access to safe, clean water. Water borne disease is rampant as they are forced to use contaminated, dirty water for drinking and washing and bathing. In addition to new water points where they can collect clean water, the community needs functional and furnished school buildings. The hundreds of children in the village attend classes in small classrooms made from sticks and mud – if they attend class at all. Often, they spend most of their time helping to collect water and the allure of a classroom made of mud or a school that gathers under a tree is not enough to draw a child from their work to pursue an education. The community needs real school buildings with furnishings and equipment that can serve the children in the area and equip them for a chance at a better life. The community also needs health facilities. Right now there are no health facilities to provide vaccines, maternal care, childbirth services, or basic first aid. People in Burbax are often killed by treatable diseases and suffer infections from treatable injuries. A health clinic is vital to help them maintain their health and stay active and thriving in their village.
September 20, 2010
In November 2009, Glimmer hosted its first Let There Be Hope event and in one night enough money was raised to fund all of the proposed projects in Burbax. Less than one year later, every one of those projects was inaugurated in the village. Today, the people of Burbax are enjoying a whole new standard of living. Women and children no longer walk hours to collect dirty, unsafe water to bring back to their families. Instead, they collect clean water from 20 water points conveniently located throughout the village. Children, no longer spending their days collecting water, attend school in brand new classrooms that are conducive to learning. Enrollment has increased tremendously and the quality of the new schools encourages many parents to send their children to school. The villagers in Burbax also benefit tremendously from the new health post. Families are able to get their children vaccinated and there is now care prenatal care and delivery care available for women. The change in the village has been dramatic and the people of Burbax look forward to what the future holds for them.
