Boosting the capacity of a water dam in a remote village in central Afghanistan via Solar Energy:
12/28/2024
Background:
Through a community-led initiative that is run by a woman leader, local engineers designed a dam at a remote village in central Afghanistan with the dimensions: 15 meters (height), 60 meters (width) and 300 meters (length). The total cost was estimated around 40,000 USD. 65% of the project has been completed, and due to lack of funds, the remaining work will be carried out in multiple phases. The dam is designed to store water from the snow during winter and rain during other seasons and via multiple streams to mitigate waste and boost the village’s water supply.
Upon the request of the village elders and local leaders, the Bamyan Foundation agreed to support in Phase I. Further collaboration will be contingent upon the quality of work, availability of funds and fundraising potentials and reporting requirements.
For safety and security reasons, we do not disclose the name of the village and the community representatives on the ground.
Phase I:
Upon the request of local leaders and in continuation of Bamyan Foundation’s initiatives in the marginalized and persecuted Hazara areas of Afghanistan, the Foundation organized a fundraiser (https://goto.gg/f/51493) to provide the following urgent items to upgrade the solar power station. The power generated will be used to redirect water from streams/creeks to increase the capacity of this dam. Furthermore, through this initiative, the Foundation is creating an opportunity for the Hazara diaspora, particularly folks from this particular locality, to participate towards development of their community in Afghanistan.
1. 30 Solar Panels with Rotating Mechanism with Inverter Apparatus (22 KW);
2. Water Pumps (24 HP), 700 m water pipes along, 350 m Kabul Barq;
3. Transportation and excavation costs to redirect streams/creeks to the dam; and
4. Total cost for phase I: ~ $5,000 USD
Report (received 12/28/24):
The Bamyan Foundation launched the above fundraiser (see link above) on July 8 that lasted until July 29,2024, and raised an amount of $3,035. The Foundation added an additional amount of $1,800 to make it a total of USD 4,835 (Total: $3,035 + $1,800 = $4,835). We are immensely grateful for the generous support or our donors.
The dam initiative is a community-wide and community-led initiative. Hazaras in Australia and Europe have supported this initiative via separate fundraisers. We have received a report that shows an amount of $13,234 spent to purchase the following items. The Foundation has covered $4,835 while the remaining amount was covered through donations collected via other fundraisers.
1. 30 Solar Panels with Rotating Mechanism with Inverter Apparatus (22 KW): $5,715
2. Water Pumps (24 HP), 700 m water pipes along, 350 m Kabul Barq: $1,919
3. 12 Batteries 200 Amp and an inverter apparatus to store power at night: $3,800
4. Aluminum cables, & transportation costs from Kabul to the village: $1,800
5. Total: $ 13,234
Impact on the ground:
Approximately 500 families will benefit from this dam when it comes fully operational. The dam will irrigate 2200 hectare of land, which will result to fertile agricultural and farmland and a healthy echo system. The power/electricity generated, via the solar power station, will be distributed to residential homes in the village, and will provide power to sewing schools in the village. The schools are run by women and provide livelihood for many women in the village.
Thanks to procuring the above supplies, the solar power station generates 21 KW of power. The water pumps passed the test of transferring water from adjacent streams to the water reservoir. There is a need for excavating a canal to transfer water in the long run.
Additionally, power is being distributed to nearby homes on a 24 hour basis now – another advantage of the upgraded power station. The availability of electricity has brought immense relief to the households.
The villagers work diligently on volunteer basis to make this dam and solar power station fully operational. They work without wages as they realize that having access to water and power will improve their quality of life and instill hope of a better future for their children. The village elders request the Foundation to consider supporting the future phases of this initiative and additional projects related to girls’ education and skill-based courses for women.
We do not disclose the name of the village (Omid is not the real name of the village) and our representatives on the ground for their safety and security. Furthermore, the Taliban is extorting significant amounts of taxes when they are informed of such community-led developmental initiatives.
Impact in the diaspora:
The Taliban government exercise significant influence over the humanitarian organizations operating in Afghanistan. The Taliban use the humanitarian aid as rewards for their supporters and mostly fellow Pashtuns and punishment for their opponents (e.g., Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks and others). Hazaras bear the brunt of this approach due to the intersectional factors of race, religion and the community’s overwhelming support for the 20 years long US intervention in Afghanistan. As such, the Taliban deliberately deny and sideline the Hazaras from the humanitarian aid that is provided by the international community.
Where the government fails to provide crucial life-saving services and aid, industrious individuals rise to the occasion to find solutions to the dire need of the people. This is the current situation in the Hazara areas of Afghanistan, where community leaders on the ground and in the diaspora work tirelessly to create novel ways to provide some relief, albeit at a small scale. For instance, our brave educators have founded underground schools, computer and skilled-based courses for girls and women, development projects to build bridges, dams, roads, schools, clinics and harness solar energy, water for irrigation and power generation.
Through these grassroots and locally-led initiatives, the Foundation is providing a transparent and cost-efficient platform for the Hazara diaspora and friends of Hazaras to support such initiatives without benefitting Afghanistan’s current rulers. Through our fundraisers that are associated with specific initiatives, we get each donation matched at least 50% during our main fundraising campaign that starts in September every year, thanks to our partnership with Global Giving.
Simultaneously, our team in the United States is advocating that the relief efforts must be directly provided to Hazara people and Hazara organizations as opposed to channelling through local Afghan organizations run by Taliban sympathizers/supporters. The current climate is too toxic to solely rely on local Afghan organizations and international organizations’ affiliate offices in Afghanistan for fair distribution of international community’s generous support to Afghans of various racial and religious backgrounds.
