I still keep strong impressions about the importance to ensure fresh water for the people in Vietnam, during my visit to that country with the group of Japa Vietnam, last year. We paid visits to projects of water reservoirs, wells and simple water systems. In Binh Thuan we observed a seriously hit village by floods and I realized how important is the work to secure fresh water for rural people.

In a rural area of Nghe An, they had completed a water reservoir that serves hundreds of families. In a different place they made a big well for the whole village using water from the stream. Since the well was near the rice field, they constructed it in such a way as to cut if off from the water polluted with chemicals from the fields. In Thu Thua (Long An), in the past, people had to buy expensively fresh water from the other side of a small river, because the water of the river is always brown and dirty. The water project was thoughtfully planned. They pumped up water from a 300 deep well into a high big water container. In the process the water goes through several screen filters. Then, from the water container, above, the water is sent through plastic pipes to over 40 families in the village. In each family outlet there is a water meter and people pay a limited "tax" to the system. Japa Vietnam has sponsored this program. The villagers have water in their homes for the first time now and some have even made simple private shower rooms. Poor villagers are exempted from paying.

In Long Dien (Binh Phuoc) where there is an educational center for children of tribal minorities they just found fresh water digging a very deep well, and they have managed to use rain water to meet the needs of two big toilets for boys and girls.

Imai walking on a "Monkey Bridge" in Mekong Delda

While in Cao Bang we went to Pack Bo following a road along rice fields and streams. The color of the water of many rivers in the plains of Vietnam is chocolate brown, but in the way to Pack Bo it was clean and deeply blue. The rice fields looked very fertile and green. I could feel an atmosphere of prosperity that made me remember the film "Dream" of Kurosawa Akira. On the other hand, the following thought came to my mind: "Is it true that, the clear water of a river, as well as Revolution, get muddy with the passing of time"?

I joined the 1999 Japa Vietnam's tour. I had been in Vietnam several times, before, with the Japanese NGO "Humain International Network" (HINT). Formerly, Japa Vietnam introduced HINT to rural areas of Binh Thuan 5 years ago, and as a result HINT has assisted programs for ethnic groups in Ham Tan, building classrooms and water wells run by electricity and has helped in the distribution of medicines and nutritious programs for children.

During this visit I realized that Japa Vietnam is a big senior group. I was astonished at the work it is doing all over Vietnam. Their 10-year works in Vietnam with grass-root communities and groups have built a climate of trust everywhere. I realized that a very important factor in international assistance is its continuation. The long personal relationships are a real human treasure. Private cooperation, realized by small organizations like Japa Vietnam, can be observed because, being small, projects have a face and invite continuation. I wish Japa Vietnam a continuous personal involvement in Vietnam. The building of deep personal relationships is a very important task for NGOs.