THE PROBLEM
- Nyabanga Village is in a remote, hilly region of eastern Zimbabwe, close to the border of Mozambique. After establishing an Early Childhood Development Center in the village (learn about the project here), a 2018 visit to the village revealed the critical need for a water well.
- The two nearest boreholes (water wells) to the village always dry up every year, forcing villagers to walk up to 5 miles round trip to get water.
- Children are missing school because their families need them to fetch water every day.
- Many men are forced to leave the village for work, as lack of a consistent water source in the village prevents a reliable source of income from raising crops and livestock.
- Villagers’ only option to wash clothing is a disease-ridden river water, which put the villagers a tremendous risk and has already resulted in the deaths of several villagers.
- Families in the village make, on average, only $25 per month. With little to no money left over after necessary expenditures on housing and food, this makes it nearly impossible for the village to raise the $7,000+ needed to install a water well.
- Zimbabwe has been in severe drought for over 10 years, making rain-dependent agriculture an unreliable source of income and nutrition. Click here to see the video detailing how Zimbabwe is currently in its ‘worst ever hunger crisis’.
THE SOLUTION!
UPDATE: Water Well Installed! This has made a HUGE positive impact on the community. See images of the community garden and its first harvest below!
After visiting this village in 2018 and seeing these challenges first-hand, Footsteps for Africa dug a borehole and install a water well, solar-powered pump, and large water tank!
Watch the project video above to see the village, meet our Zimbabwe Country Director and his family, and better understand why this water well is so critically needed! View this condensed 90 second project video!
Benefits of the water well:
- Children will not have to miss school to fetch water.
- Those in the village who are forced to leave their families to find work elsewhere will now be able to raise crops and livestock year-round, providing a source of income while being able to live with their families and contribute to their community.
- Community members will be able to supplement their income with gardens at their homesteads, as pipes will be installed to each homestead.
- General hygiene will improve, as there will be plentiful clean water for drinking, sanitation and hygiene.
