As Canadian Lutheran World Relief pointed out, the people of Aura had good soil and seed; they just needed water. Diverting water and providing irrigation gave them the ability to settle into communities where children could go to school. By developing a community, they could also focus on economic development and access healthcare. These projects included training and educating people in a number of areas, such as sanitation, nutrition, horticulture, animal husbandry, leadership, women’s empowerment, and the value of education.
Developing a community allows people to focus on economic development and access healthcare.
Aura I benefited 600 households by providing irrigation for 150 hectares. Aura II benefitted an additional 450 households by providing irrigation for another 150 hectares. People have been able to cultivate what was previously bush land and grow crops such as maize, sorghum, mangos, bananas, and avocados, which they can harvest twice a year. They have food security and no longer have to keep moving in search of water and food for livestock. They are also less vulnerable to changes in weather or diseases that might affect their livestock.
Today the irrigation systems are self-sustaining as the farmers make contributions to pay for their upkeep.