Provide a preschool in Malawi with safe water

On behalf of Pump Aid I’d like to thank all of those who have helped us on this journey so far. Access to water and sanitation remain two of the most fundamental needs in life and you will help bring them to the children at Mng’ona preschool in Malawi.

This project is still in its initial stages. The team in Malawi have so far identified the school we are working in and have spoken to the Traditional authority of Mduwal Village, the District Committees and members of the surrounding community. These discussions have given us a good grounding of the current situation, and the different roles in the village. This is helpful in us understanding how the project will contribute to the children, but how it will also benefit the surrounding community.

Now for the next steps. The dry season lasts for another few months in Malawi so it is crucial that the digging of the pump is completed whilst the ground is still dry and we can avoid any contamination caused by rain. For this we need to raise enough funds for the materials, training and labour required for the water pump, equating to £3,000. We are a sixth of the way there and hope to raise the full amount by the end of September, before the torrential rain begins.

Let’s dig in this dry season and bring safe water to Mduwal village. Forward this email on to friends and family and help us raise £3,000 to complete the first stage of this project and build a fully functioning water pump.

Links:

• Read more about our work in early childhood

Thank you to all the support we have received so far for this project. Since our last update we have had our initial meetings with the Traditional Leaders in Mng’ona village and with the school to draw up a list of main actions which need to be addressed. As soon as we receive further funding we can make a start on this project and begin by firstly gathering resources required for construction to install the water pump.

This project not only transforms young children by creating a safe and nurturing environment it benefits the entire community. The Pump Aid team have recently returned from another CBCC project in Kasungu in Malawi to see the results of installing a water pump and a new toilet block. We spoke to Memory, a mother of 2 who volunteers as a caregiver at the school. 

Before Pump Aid helped the school in Kasungu, Memory explains “we did not have proper hand washing facilities to help the kids wash their hands after visiting the latrine but also the water itself was not enough. We had to manage with kids washing their hands in only one basin.”  Poor water and sanitation facilities is a major factor causing undernutrition in children, by permitting the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhoea. Handwashing alone can help prevent the spread of diseases by up to 50% (Generation Nutrition, 2015).

Now the school in Kasungu has access to clean water and hygenic toilets, Memory and the rest of the caregivers can put their training into practice and teach children safe hygiene practices, preparing them for life opportunities. 

This project in Kasungu illustrates the immediate benefits of having access to clean water and sanitation and with further funding we can help transform the lives at Mng’ona preschool.

Please help share our project with friends and family to bring clean water and toilets to the children at Mng’ona preschool. 

Links:

• Read more about our early childhood development project