A BOREHOLE FOR CHISUMA
When water and energy are a challenge
During our journey in Africa, we traveled with Thabi from Zimbabwe. We discussed their way of life and witnessed the challenges faced by large parts of the population in accessing water sources and energy. The problem isn't new, the challenges are known, and the solution isn't very complicated: utilize local knowledge about well drilling and combine it with a pragmatic approach to finance small projects. When people aren't faced with the challenge of finding clean water sources every day, they have the opportunity for personal growth, education, and a self-sustaining livelihood.
A group of 21 people from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia have joined forces to initiate a project in an area that still lacks sufficient water wells and suffers from poor economic conditions in Zimbabwe. Alongside the local community of Chisuma village in Matabeleland North province (25 km from Victoria Falls), we will shape this project. This will involve drilling a water well, connecting it to a pump powered by solar energy, and ensuring the storage of this water.
The water well will provide the village residents with enough resources to expand their gardens and focus on developing their livelihoods instead of constantly dealing with the water problem.
The group spearheading this initiative strongly believes in direct aid, ensuring that all funds collected reach the people without overhead costs. Some of the initiators have extensive experience in organizing aid in this manner.