The voices of the future here

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This morning is our last project visit before returning to Delhi. It is spent at a school in Bhubanaswar set up by a charitable organisation for slum children. Here WaterAid and partners have helped secure water supplies by investing in a roof rain water harvesting system. This collects rain water from the school roof during the rainy season, filters it and stores it in large containers, enough for a few months' supply. In future they hope to increase storage capacity but this would require more complex solutions to ensure the water could be kept clean for longer.

Children here have been given a voice by setting up a 'child parliament', and we are priviledged to observe them in session. There is a government and an opposition, with ministers for water, sanitation, health, education and finance. Questions are asked, responses given, debates held. There is even a bit of banging fists on the tables for good measure! I am very impressed and hope that some of these children might have an influence on the real parliament one day.

Later on it is time for final goodbyes to the WaterAid India Eastern Regional Office. A quick de-brief, slide-show and lunch, then much rushing around to catch our flight back to Delhi just in time. It has gone so quickly.

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