For the villagers of Mwancheka in Malawi’s Kaphuka area the risk of diarrhoea and stomach infections, resulting from contaminated water, was ever present, and the spectre of cholera was never far away.
That was until Self Help Africa teamed up with the regional Water Department and drew up plans for the construction of a community shallow well to service the drinking water needs of the 95 households in the locality.
A series of meetings were convened with the community, and after locals had been trained by the Ministry in building techniques, and by Self Help in the future management and administration of the utility, a working rota of villagers began digging, baking the necessary curved well bricks, and set to work on the construction of a new shallow well for Mwancheka.
Once building of the well had been completed, a manual low-maintenance Marda hand-pump provided by Self Help was installed at the completed well.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the project, villagers pay 10 Malawian kwacha (7 cent) per month to a community-based well management committee, towards the future upkeep and maintenance of the pump and utility.
The pump was the 17th such shallow well to have been developed by Self Help in the Kaphuka Project area, during the five year period of the programme (2003-2007). |
Self Help Africa in Malawi |
Self Help Africa began working in Malawi in the late 1990's - the organisation's Irish arm (formerly Self Help Development International) implementing programmes in the south of the country, and it's UK operation (formerly Harvest Help) in the north.
The organisation is currently engaged in implementing a series of area based programmes, and measures to build capacity at regional level, so that communities can improve their lives and the living standards and conditions of their people. |
