ERSHA has rich experience in the area of improving communities’ access to basic social services such as drinking water supply, education and community health.
ERSHA is highly engaged in rural of water supply projects with the major objectives of improving households’ access to clean drinking water, reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases and minimizing the workload on women and children. With this initiative, several springs, shallow-wells and bore holes developed and protected providing potable water for more than hundred thousand people.
ERSHA has been mainly promoting alternative basic education with the objective of providing basic education for out of school children. ERSHA has contributed much in the effort to increase access of school-age children to basic education. All the schools were handed-over to the respective district education offices and the villagers and upgraded to primary schools and junior secondary schools.
To improve education quality, different supports were provided including construction of standard blocks, expansion and renovation of formal primary schools and furnishing the classrooms, providing reference materials/books, constructing separate toilets for girls and boys, constructing laboratory rooms, etc. Because of the interventions, the district Education Offices were able to provide basic quality education for the students. As a result, enrolment rate increased, girls attendance improved, dropout reduced, better learning and teaching environment created these all leading to improved education quality and increased coverage.
With regard to health, the interventions were focused on providing primary health care education and this is because if communities’ awareness on primary health care enhanced, they will be less exposed to diseases. Based on this approach, farmers were trained on primary health care and assisted to adopt the practices. In addition, trainings were provided for traditional birth attendants on safe delivery practices to serve rural mothers in the past time before the health extension system launched.
To reach those who do not have access to health facilities, ERSHA has constructed six health posts and handed over to the government.
To improve the sanitation and hygiene practices of school girls and to enhance their school attendance, ERSHA has constructed separate girls toilets in primary schools that could serve more than 1500 girls.