Fighting Taboos in Borana Community, SouthernEthiopia

In her words: Saro Konsole, Pastoralist Women from Ellammu Village, Miyo District

By Sintayehu Mesele; Learning Officer, CARE Ethiopia

November 17, 2009

My name is Saro Konsole. I am 42 years old. I have eight children. Four of the children are in school, two are herders and the remaining two are small children. I also have two adopted children.My husband is 65 years old. I help him and take care of him.

My days are busy! For my livelihood I depend on livestock as well as petty trading. I also cultivate crops such as haricot bean and maize. Theses days, the climate is unpredictable and unreliable for crop farming due to climate changes. Crops regularly fail due to lack of adequate rainfall. Sometimes we lose livestock due to drought.

I have known the GWI project for two years. GWI project has dug ponds for us. We are happy about that. We have also taken different trainings provided by the GWI. I took two trainings on hygiene and sanitation that were about constructing pit latrines with locally available materials and on the harmful hygiene and sanitation practices of the Borana community. The Borana believe that it istaboo to use latrines and bury human excreta. Someone who defecates in a pit larine is considered an evil wisher. As part of the community, I too had been influenced by this wrong belief.

After I took the trainingI started to dig my own latrine. During that time most people were laughing at me. Now most of the community appreciates me. There is nothing you can get without sacrifice.

Using the latrine has many advantages for us. I have saved time spent going to the bush for defecation. My family and I have become healthier and have less diarrhea.

There were several other benefits of the training. We did not have awareness on water-borne diseases before. After the training, we recognized that we can reduce water-borne diseases and purify water for drinking. I have started to use Water Guard and PUR water purifier. I boil water before drinking. Before the training, I took showers inside my house. Now I have constructed a shower. Both latrine and shower rooms are constructed side by side and both are cemented.Whenever I need to take a shower I can take it in the shower room.

We lived together with our livestock in one house before the training. I have now separately constructed houses for the livestock. I amconvinced that I can lead and convince others after I have tested and passed many challenges on promoting the hygiene and sanitation practices.

I have passed the information which I got from the training to four of my neighbors. They have taken my advice and now all of them practice betterhygiene and sanitation. Many neighbors also use my latrine. I think this is a contribution to my community.Now I am free and confident to tell everyone about the use of the toilets and other related personal hygienic practices. I have a strong belief in fighting the taboos of my community that are obstacles for hygiene and sanitation promotion. My vision is that one day the whole community of Borana will use latrines and showers like me.Toilets are like places to rest.

About the Author:

Mr. Sintayehu Mesele is a Learning Officer with in CARE Ethiopia GWI program based at Borana of Southern Ethiopia. Email:

Key words: Hygiene and Sanitation, Latrine, Taboos