Water for All: pedal pumps and wells for families

Dear Donor,

Malawi is one of the poorest Countries of Africa and now is facing a serious crisis. The pandemic has led to dramatic consequences from an economic and social point of view. We should also add the strong floods that hit the country between January and February 2022. The rainy season has arrived late compared to the usual period, causing damages to structures, houses and fields (in particular corn, one of the firs sources of livelihood of the country). Moreover, the scarcity of crops contributes to the increase of malnutrition rates, which is a real plague that affects the most fragile people: children. As a consequence of the economic crisis, the healthcare system is facing critical conditions: the majority of deaths is caused by severe malnutrition, pneumonia or endemic diseases.

Unemployment rate, which was already high, has increased during lockdowns and now families can’t afford primary goods. Beside severe health and economic problems, our local representatives underline serious problems in the education sector. Even if Malawi is a Country rich in water thanks to Lake Malawi, the third biggest lake of Africa, this primary good is not easily accessible by everyone. Almost 300 schools do not have access to drinking water and children have to wash themselves with water collected from the rivers. In fact, women and children have to walk for long distances in order to pick up some water, which sometimes is not drinkable and increases the spread of illnesses.

Thanks to your help in 2021 we had been able to build one well in the Vilage of Chimwalire, in Mangochi District. Thanks to your support 85 families can now have access to clean water! In 2022, due to the great need of water in villages and schools, we want to build a second well for the Full Primary School of Chimwala, always in Mangochi District. Our local representative Father Kimu is working with Aleimar in order to raise funds for its construction. We would like to buy also 10 foot pumps for the irrigation so that local families can cultivate their fields, increasing corn crops that can be sold in the markets. One well costs almost 7.370 USD, whereas one foot pump costs 315 USD. With your help we will reach this important goal together!

Thank you!

The current situation in Malawi is still worrying. The main problem is not the Covid-19 pandemic itself, but its social and economic dramatic consequences that touch the country and its 19 million inhabitants. Less than 5% of the population has received a dose of vaccine and in general they have received Astra Zeneca. Moreover, in January 2022 Tornado Ana and several floods have hit the south of the country, destroying fields, villages and schools, worsening the already fragile situation of Malawi. Fortunately, rain has not caused huge damages in Mangochi District, but a lot of houses and structures near the Educational Centre directed by Father Joseph Kimu, our local representative, have been ruined and many people have asked for help to Father Kimu.

Father Joseph Kimu has reported that in St. John Schools life is carrying on regularly. In January the new school year 2021/2022 restarted. Children are already used to employing face masks and following all basic sanitary rules. This is not the same for all the children of Malawi of course. Unfortunately, schools that do not have direct access to clean water are numerous. According to the latest Covid-19 instructions, the Government requires that each school has to have direct access to a source of water in order to continue its activities.

At the moment, 600 girls attend school at the St. John Centre and there they receive an accommodation, food and high-quality education. Aleimar keep on providing clean water to many children supported: we have just built a well in Chimwalire Village, in Mangochi District.

Now we are working in order to build another well in the school of Chimwala, that shelters more than 2000 children; thanks to this well, not just all the students of the school will have direct access to clean water, but this fundamental right will be recognized also to 70 families of the closest villages!

We want to thank all of you for your great engagement that allowed us to continue supporting all the children involved in our projects and thanks to your help we will build together a precious well for Chimwala Primary School!

Thank you!