Postcard From the Field

Dear Friend:

In the hot, dry hills of Ethiopia, water is a resource more precious than gold. Erosion, overgrazing and unreliable rainfalls have damaged farmers' ability to grow crops, resulting in a nightmare of hunger and want. I witnessed this while visiting the village of Kersa during one of the more severe droughts in recent memory.

CRS is working with the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat to help community groups build wells, develop irrigation and learn to use water resources more efficiently. The results are visible — amid brown and gray hills, farms benefiting from this project boast fields of emerald green. Farmers are able to grow a rich variety of cash crops, as well as staple crops like sorghum and chickpeas. The produce is sufficient to feed their families and to sell in the regional market, bringing in money to invest in future needs. Although the problems are daunting, a simple project like this can help people manage the available supply of water, reversing the effects of environmental damage and improving the well-being of families.

You only have to look at the children to see the success of the project. They have none of the usual signs of malnutrition: distended bellies, orange-tinted hair, dull yellowed eyes. They are robust and energetic, running and playing as children are meant to do.

We at CRS know that this bounty comes from people like you. On behalf of everyone who benefits from your generosity, thank you.

Sincerely,
Krista Threefoot
CRS Staff Writer

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