When Water stopped,Unity Flowed:A Story from Aarandada

[Rojina Wagle]

It has been nearly a year since we began working in the Aarandada community under the ARC project. This journey has been full of learning, challenges and moments that tested our patience.

Before ARC, it was very difficult to even bring people together for group discussions. Most conversations happened one-to-one, even for issues that needed collective thinking. Group discussions were rare in the community. But after ARC, with UniCoN engaging people through one to one conversations the things slowly began to change. People started sitting together, listening to each other’s stories and talking openly about community issues. Community members themselves shared that this shift was new and meaningful for them.Through these continuous interactions, trust began to grow. People started opening up more and the community slowly began to engage in discussions that truly mattered.

One such discussion brought forward a pressing issue related to drinking water. Around 14 households in Aarandada had been facing serious difficulties due to a damaged water motor. This problem had continued for nearly 3–4 months, affecting daily life and access to safe water. During this time, many families had to go to nearby houses to fetch water, while others collected rainwater and stored to manage their daily needs.

What happened next was truly inspiring.

The community members took initiative. They came together, discussed the issue, and collectively decided to raise funds to replace the damaged motor. In total,they collected 25,000- an amount that seem small,but was a big step for the community. Even though not all households were in a position to contribute financially due to economic challenges, the spirit of togetherness remained strong. A few members stepped forward and covered the required cost, showing trust and understanding within the community. They believed that those who could not contribute this time would support in the future when needed. This mutual trust became the foundation of their action.

Earlier this didnot happen because people were not used to sitting together and discussing issues openly.Problems stayed at the individual level and there was little spaces for collective thinking.But now with regular interaction and shared spaces created through ARC,people have started to listen to each other, build trust and see themselves as part of collective strengths.

Today, the water motor has been successfully replaced.

This experience is a powerful reminder that change does not happen overnight. It requires patience, continuous engagement and trust-building. Most importantly, it shows that when a community begins to come together, listen and act collectively, real solutions can emerge.

This is not just a story about fixing a water motor. It is a story about a community learning to sit together, speak together and solve problems together.

Result of this change:

The result of this effort is not only that the water motor is now working. It has also changed everyday life. Families no longer need to spend time walking to other houses. Water now reaches their homes directly, saving time, reducing daily stress and making life easier. Another result is that,the community now has stronger belief in itself.People are more willing to come together, raise issues and take initiative.There is a growing understanding that change is possible when they act as a group, not as a individuals.