Problems caused by inadequate water supply at Schools

• Due to both lack of awareness and inadequate facilities, children are not following essential water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) procedures. This leaves children vulnerable to diarrhoea and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. These diseases cause chronic disability and prevent children from benefiting from education.

• Climate change has resulted in droughts and unpredictable rainfall in Monze, severely impacting the community’s potential to produce crops. We establish school permaculture gardens to feed the children and teach the community sustainable agricultural methods. The gardens need a reliable source of water for irrigation to grow plants and trees.

• Women living nearby draw water for their homes and for the school, this is a strenuous task where the underground water table is low.

We fundraise to provide solar powered water pumps.

Solar powered water pumps are a proven effective methods of delivering sustainable sanitation to schools and gardens in Monze area. Solar panels welded on a pole or on a building roof produce electricity to power a pump placed in the borehole, water is pumped to a tank on top of a water tower, water then flow to taps in the school grounds. FoM has an excellent track record of installing solar pumps. Our first project in 2013 provided a solar pump to Chisikili HIV/AIDS support group to irrigate their permaculture garden. This pump continues to work well in 2022. 

We have installed solar pumps at Lushomo, Kampunu, Mwiinga-Malimvwa, Malimba, Kachindu, Mungolo, Ntambo and Sikabenga schools built by FoM, bringing safe water for hundreds of children. The pumpsa also provide water for nearby families.

FoM funds WASH training for school children to be taught to wash at “critical times” to prevent illness. We encourage after school WASH club to reinforce the message. Children also learn how to make a hand-washing station at their homes and as “agents of change” disseminate effective hygiene practices to their families and community.