Jilin, China: A grand ceremony was held in the Xiaowudao village to celebrate the successful completion of DNV’s fourth water and sanitation project in China, in collaboration with the Norwegian and Chinese Red Cross.
The project started in the spring of 2007 and consisted of bringing spring water from a nearby mountain through a gravity tank and modern pipeline system to each household and constructing an ecological sanitation facility for the Xiaowudao village. Training and education were also an important part of the project.
At the opening ceremony Norwegian ambassador to China, Mr Saether, highly praised the Norwegian and Chinese Red Cross and DNV for their efforts to help the local villagers and said: “It’s encouraging to see that the project is helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the people here.”
Greatly improved standard of living
After the ceremony, the participants visited several families to learn about how the local people live. One of the villagers told the visitors that the project had greatly improved their living standards and led to a reduction in water-borne disease. “We now have clean and safe drinking water and improved sanitary conditions. The most important thing is that we feel much happier and have more confidence in the future,” he said.
The Jilin Yanbian district is situated in the mountainous area that borders on North Korea and Russia. The rural areas are particularly vulnerable due to the insufficient water supply and poor water quality and sanitary conditions in households and communities in general.
Continuous support from DNV
Since 2005, DNV has continuously supported water and sanitation projects in Jilin Province by collaborating with the Norwegian and Chinese Red Cross.
“We have established a proven and trusting relationship with the Norwegian and Chinese Red Cross and the local governments. We will continue to support the water project in Jilin, which is part of our strategic development in China. DNV is committed to taking social responsibility in the countries in which it operates,” says Bjorn K. Haugland.