Safe water brings health and opportunity
Chilufya, a newly qualified plumber trained by WaterAid in Zambia. Photo: WaterAid / Anna Kari
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Chilufya’s wide smile reflects the deep pride he takes in his work. And he has more reason than most to feel proud. Chilufya uses his skills to fundamentally change the lives of others in his community in Mambwe, Zambia. In fact, his work is literally life-saving.
Chilufya is one of 24 plumbers trained to upgrade and maintain wells in this district through WaterAid’s Self Supply Pilot Project, which offers households loans and expertise to improve their water supplies.
His work brings a reliable supply of safe, clean water to families who previously risked their lives drinking unsafe water from muddy, uncovered pools dug in the ground.
He recounted: “I am feeling proud to be trained as a plumber because I am helping my community to access safe water. It is important to have clean water in communities such as this one because clean water is vital to human life. If we use clean safe water we won’t have many diseases that come as a result of contaminated water.”
With WaterAid’s help, Chilufya helps communities to stand on their own two feet and take responsibility for their own water supply, as he explained: “When a community member applies for our loan to renovate his water point we send field officers to monitor the well. Then we call the owner and tell them how much needs to be paid for the materials and the labor charge for the tradesman.
"It is good that people are paying themselves to this project to have clean and safe water, because people have understood that having safe water is vital in their lives. People are being empowered to own water points”
More time for work
When women are freed from the burden of spending hours each day searching for water, they have more time available to farm, care for their families, and earn an income. This means better nutrition and increased prosperity for everyone.
Joyce Mengaa using the WaterAid-funded well in Likunyi. Credit: WaterAid / Jon Spaull
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Since WaterAid helped the village of Likunyi to build a new well, Joyce Mengaa’s family has been feeling these benefits. She told us:
“I used to collect water from the neighboring village (Makowa) and it took me two hours each time. I live very near this new pump and now I have more time to spend in my garden and do the housework. I grow vegetables which I take to town to sell.”
You can help give safe water to more families in need by making a contribution to WaterAid today.
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Kayola, Zambia
Protecting children's health
“The water doesn’t taste good here. It is milky and dirty all year round. We share this source with animals – cows and goats. We are not happy that the water is bad, but we have no choice.” These are the words of Beauty, a mother from Kayola, Zambia.
The ‘wells’ in her village are just wide scoop holes dug into the ground, totally uncovered and unprotected. The water is contaminated with fecal matter. It is no surprise that Beauty’s family constantly suffers from water-related diseases.
“I feel sad when my children are very sick. I am afraid that they will die like my first child,” she continued. Water-related illness has already taken Beauty’s first child. Now she is terrified it will take another.
But WaterAid has started to work in Kayola. By 2012 they should have a borehole, and every household will have its own latrine, meaning Beauty’s other children can look forward to a healthier future.
Photo: WaterAid / Anna Kari