Several families in my neighborhood do not have access to drinking water at their homes. They need to go to the public fountain to fetch some.
This is how the Fokontany organizes it. The fountain is open the whole week from 6 a.m. to noon; then from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. During the first week of the month, the citizens have to pay 10Ariary per bucket of water. The other weeks are free.
Some women and young girls work for some families so they fetch water for these homes. They fetch a bucket of water for 60Ariary. A family needs around 10 to 15 buckets of water per day. Liva (the girl on the pic above) fetches water for 3 families everyday. Apart from that, she is also a copper.
Look at those buckets queueing at the fountain.
I wouldn’t like being after that one.
Look at the cute kids helping their parents.
DagoTiako 
11 comments
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December 6, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Joan
thank you for bringing Malagasy everyday lives to the blogs and the world, it reminds a lot of us that in these days of recession, depression, holidays, etc. that people are still living the hard life even in the capitale of Madagascar. (and this joan’s little request) I hope the fokontany have planned something nice for the kids this christmas.
December 6, 2008 at 10:46 pm
simp
at least they got it from the tap, in the village they fetch it from the river, at best fountains… I’m not sure it’s very clean, when people do all sorts of dirty stuff on the river, evethough it’s streaming… stange enough, it doesn’t seem to affect people’s health 🙂
you’re right, it’s hard!
I could feel it from the long queue I’m seeing.
There is a rush hour for fetching water or it’s like that all day?
tsiky dia ampy ozy hery zay 😉
December 7, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Romi
Thanks for this documenting this sobering part of Malagasy life.
You mention that Liva is a ‘copper’ – sorry for the ignorance, but what does that mean?
December 8, 2008 at 6:42 am
Tahina
Matsaka ann, matsaka ihany ahh, matsaka foana uhhh :p
yeah tell us what copper means 😀
December 8, 2008 at 6:52 am
moonlightgirl
Well we can say only a few people have water in their homes.
Either they fetch water at the fountain or in a well!!!!
December 8, 2008 at 5:18 pm
ariniaina
Romi & Tahina>as I didn’t know the meaning of someone who washes clothes as job, the dictionnary says copper, maybe you can help me finding another appropriate word for it. Thanks 😉
simp> yep, there is a rush hour, 6 to 7a.m and 5 to 6p.m.
December 14, 2008 at 1:08 pm
sipakv
This is great post ariniaina.
Eo ambanin’ny tranonay misy pompe dia mahatsiaro ny taloha aho mahita ireto sary. Ilay pompe aloha toa tsy dia madio be toa io taloha, fai lay pompe “vy” ireny e. Dia matetika vaky fa mandeha fotsiny ny rano.
Ireo hita amin’ny sary ary toa mba olona lehibebe, fa taloha tena ankizy kely bilitika no hita mantsaka.
Someone who washes clothes as job is called a launderer or laundrette (as in “my beautiful laundrette”, the movie).
December 14, 2008 at 2:16 pm
ariniaina
thx a lot sipakv 😉
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