Clean water for 1 new person every 10 seconds

School was not an attractive place for children of Mzandu village and other surrounding villages. Chibweya School, in Mzandu village did not have access to potable water and the closest source of dirty water was not easy to reach. The school lies on an upland area and the closest shallow well was about 400 meters down a steep slope. In trying to keep the classroom environment clean, each pupil in the senior class was requested to bring a bucket of water to school every day. This was hard work and children began to avoid school and the struggle of carrying 5 -10 liters of water every day. Those who lasted up to grade 8, endured years of labor to attain their education. “I am now in grade 8. The years I have been at the school have been painful because I had to carry a bucket of water to school daily,” explained Chikondi.

The story for students changed when World Vision’s Water Project provided a borehole. The school committee, along with community members from surrounding villages, made their contribution of local materials to ensure the borehole was installed.

Now, the learners no longer carry water from their homes. The classrooms are clean and are mopped daily since they have sufficient water unlike in the past when they had to sparingly use the available water brought from home. It is appealing to go to school. “For me going to school is no longer a burden now but attractive. The borehole has relieved me from the heavy burden we used to have in the past,” said Chikondi.

Mikasi, a boy also in grade 8, highlighted that, it was difficult for him too. Fetching water for the homes is usually done by women and girls in the community but due to the demands of the school, he also had to carry water. “If it were not for my parents being tough on me, I would have dropped from school to run away from such a shame and labor,” said Mikasi. The borehole has removed the burden of carrying water daily by the learners and the pupils can now drink safe water at any time. Before, sanitation and hygiene was heavily compromised. There was no water for washing hands after visiting the toilet due to scarcity of the resource. Now, hand washing facilities are available at the latrine site.

The borehole provided by World Vision is a great miracle for this isolated school. Allan Chunga, teacher and Patron for the school WASH club said, “There was no better blessing that World Vision could have given to the school, than a borehole.” The borehole has not only contributed to improve lives of the learners but even the teachers and their families have benefitted. The borehole is serving the school and three surround-ing villages. “Thank you World Vision,” said Allan.