Water Project in Mchinji, Malawi

This project hopes to contribute towards achieving greater access to safe and clean water for rural communities in Malawi through the provision of clean water, rural communities can lead healthier lives. Community members, particularly women and children who traditionally carry the 'water burden' can have more time for other activities such as attending school, growing vegetables, looking after livestock and other economic activites.

Current status

Over the next 12 months Pump Aid's pump building teams will be working in Mchinji and at least one other district, reaching the most vunerable communities and delivering lasting, sustainable water projects. This year, in Malawi, Pump Aid hopes to build at least 600 Elephant Pumps.

Funds for this project will contribute towards the following activities that are all necessary in ensuring that the water project successful and sustainable:

- Site verification and liaison with authorities and traditional leaders (e.g. village chief)
- Formation of the Water Point Committee (minimal 50% women, including chair and treasurer)
- Community contributes sand and bricks for the well/pump building and helps with preparations for the site. Thus the pump will be a true community project and a feeling of ownership is created.
- Local construction of Elephant Pump parts and materials
- Installation of the Elephant Pump; Pump Aid working in collaboration with the community
- Training of rural communities on pump maintenance
- Health and Hygiene education for the community
- Monitoring and evaluation of the project
- Reporting

Pump Aid will install 3 Elephant Pumps in rural Malawi. As Pump Aid is already working in Mchinji District, this project will be implemented as a part of Pump Aid's current pump installation programme. Therefore, we will be able to select a suitable site, liaise with the local community and authorities and install the Elephant Pumps within 3 months of this project being funded.

Goals

• To install 3 Elephant Pumps
• To train the communities in pump maintenance

The Elephant Pump is a simple, innovative and effective hand pump based on a 2000 year old Chinese rope and washer design. All of the Elephant Pumps components are locally made in our workshops. The communities themselves are asked to contribute materials such as bricks towards the lining of the well and the pump itself. They are also involved in every step of the pump build, ensuring that there is a strong sense of community ownership over the pump. Through maintenance training the community acquires the knowledge and the ability to maintain the pump themselves. This in turn adds to the community ownership over the pump and emphasises the need for this project to be seen as more than pump building, but a full and sustainable water project.