To Begin

To Begin was filmed in a small village in Konso, in the Omo Valley of Southern Ethiopia a community rebuilding after severe floods that destroyed crops, contaminated water sources, which triggered a cholera outbreak, creating a widespread public health crisis.

Following on from The Long Walk where Ali was not permitted to record sound, The Begin was an essential next step, Ali wanted to give voice to the women she had walked alongside to collect water to center their lived experiences: the long, steep walks, the risks of unsafe water, and the toll on their bodies and households through illness, injury and child mortality.

Shaped by conversation and the continuous rhythm of walking, the film captures the physical, emotional, and historical weight of this essential labor. The testimonies, honour the women’s resilience and illuminates the intertwined social and environmental pressures they endure..

To Begin was exhibited on large public LED screens in City’s across the UK including London, Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester supported by Wateraid and the BBC, and in arts venues and WaterAid offices globally.

Ali later donated the film to WaterAid Ethiopia and London for ongoing use across the world.