Today marks World Water Day. Despite the UN’s International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life 2005–2015’, there are still over a billion people who have not got access to safe, clean water. Water is life, a commodity that we take for granted in the west, but when you have to drink the water from crocodile infested rivers and carry it for several kilometres it is very precious. Millions of children die each year from preventable water-borne diseases, hunger and poverty are a result of water shortage. Women spend many hours of their day fetching water. In a country such as Zambia when the dry season lasts for six months it is crucial to have an adequate source of safe, clean water.
This stagnant water is used for drinking and washing
Earlier this month we were able to provide four new bore holes for the Mukuni Cheifdom. We are working with two other water charites, Just a Drop and W Charitable Foundation who have donated three of the bore holes. WCF are funding London’s University’s SOAS to research water problems in Africa and we are delighted that they have chose The Butterfly Tree for some of their field work studies.
Mukuni, Siamasimbi and Katapazi schools will all benefit. Previously they had to share a well with the community, which depletes the supply and in some cases the water is only available for a few hours a day. Not only is there insufficient water for drinking but also for washing and sanitation. The school will now be able to grow their own vegetables reducing hunger amongst the pupils and making them more sustainable.
The fourth is from a very generous family from the US who I met in Zambia last June. The village of Kafekwa and their neighbours had to rely on river water, highly contaminated, diarrhoa is a common ailment amongst these people. It is a fertile growing area, the income comes from farming and now with the addition of the new well and pump more food can be grown.
New bore hole and pump for Kafekwa Village
We insist that the communities receiving our donated bore holes have their own water committee, must maintain the hand pumps and teach the people basic hygiene.
