It has now been almost 6 months since our group of travelers ventured to Malawi and back, their lives forever changed. While it took some time for those feelings and experiences to be properly processed, relayed, and then transcribed for a wider audience, the efforts and activities of WASH and GRO have not ceased in the least. In this world of fundraising, spreading awareness, and coordinating global moving parts, there simply can be no stopping – especially not while we were in the height of prime season for constructing boreholes. So, in order to catch things up, here are the major updates that have occurred since June 2024.
Introducing: The WASHmobile
One of the primary goals for both WASH and GRO is to make sure that we support our Malawian partners, even from across continents. Patrick Tembwe and his team are frequently traveling across the country and doing the hands-on work of active construction, meaning they require reliable, safe tools and gear. This summer, the truck Patrick used to transport himself and borehole materials to various WASH/GRO sites – for initial inspection, construction, and follow-up visits – suffered mechanical breakdowns and became unable to run. Additionally, Malawi has been under pressure from a recent fuel backlog, which skyrockets the price of gas and often makes it difficult to obtain.
In order to continue his work, Patrick made the investment to purchase a new truck, with more structure, better security, and more fuel-efficiency. Due to the rough nature of rural roads Patrick regularly travels, WASH board members decided to allocate funds to purchase a new set of tires – more robust, stronger tires – for Patrick’s truck. For WASH, this is a critical investment in the work that we do. Patrick and his team are our literal eyes and ears on the ground; without his expertise and willingness to travel, our operations would not succeed. These tires on a new truck ensure that Patrick is safe and has the ability to properly complete the tasks he sets out for. We are thrilled to report that the truck has been working wonderfully and is proving exceptionally well-prepared to haul materials out to borehole locations.
First image: Sturdy new tires for Patrick’s truck, which will make the cross-country visits to well sites;
Second image: Tires being changed out for the upcoming site visits.
Patrick’s new truck hauling fuel canisters for the long journey and piping for borehole construction.
Training Program Gathers New Trainees
As the number of boreholes has grown and continues to do so, the issue of longevity has become more and more prominent. At the inception of GRO and WASH, the vision and intention has always been sustainable change. Wells are indeed a sustainable source – to a degree. There are often factors outside our control, even if the borehole wells are best suited to prevent the impact of things like weather, animal interference, and tampering. The wells, however, are mechanical and therefore susceptible to potential maintenance issues. In lieu of this, WASH has made it a priority to ensure the upkeep of our wells so that they can continue to serve communities for years to come.
Last year, Patrick developed a program to train local community members in Borehole Maintenance. These individuals are tasked with handling any mechanical issues that arrive with the borehole in their community and doing general upkeep to maintain proper working order. Already there have been 16 people trained, but in the last few weeks another 13 were added to that roster for 29 technicians in total. Not only does this care for our wells, it also provides jobs for locals. There are now Borehole Maintenance technicians in 12 communities: Mbalachanda, Ethuleni, Echlumbeni, Kapija, Kapoka, Karanga, St. Austin, St. Benard, Kalopa, Euthini F.P., Kawonekera, and Kamwankhuku.
The 13 new trainees attend class to learn the critical skill of borehole maintenance.
Training for the 13 new technicians is actively in progress. During this training, there is both a classroom and practical aspect. While in the classroom, trainees listen to lectures, learn about the construction of a borehole, and take time to intimately understand each piece of the well. Then, the trainees travel to well sites and complete hands-on learning scenarios. Patrick reports that all the trainees are very eager to learn and active participants in the classroom. He says that his emphasis on training these new technicians is on “Together, we can make a difference.”
New borehole maintenance trainees use the chalkboard to study borehole mechanisms and makeup in the classroom.
One of the most exciting developments on this particular front is that two of these trainees are women – the first women to be trained in this skill. These ladies are named Ireen Phiri and Winnie Jere, and both are from the St. Austin community. Patrick tells us, “They both got interested in learning to become technicians after seeing how challenging it is when their borehole breaks down; it takes longer for outside technicians to repair them, which forces them to draw water from unsafe places.” Ireen is a mother of four, two of which have families of their own, and Winnie is a mother of seven with three older children who have families of their own. All of their younger children are currently attending school in St. Austin, some in younger Forms (elementary) and some in high school. Both make their living by selling various wares in the community. Both sell piece work (artwork); Ireen sells vegetables and Winnie brews local beer and sometimes sells cakes. WASH is beyond excited to have them joining our team of dedicated technicians!
Ireen (left) and Winnie (right), our two new female borehole maintenance trainees! Behind them you can see drawings of borehole parts on their chalkboard from their studies.
New Borehole Drilling Begins
And there is still more exciting news! Thanks to your generous help and support, WASH has been able to organize the funds for SIX NEW BOREHOLES. Many of these new wells are going to be located in communities that are also training a new technician. Mbalachanda will have two wells, one from GRO and one from Starfish MUHS; St. Benard will have a well from Starfish MUHS; Ethunleni and Euthini will have wells from GRO; and Echilumbeni C.D.S.S. will have a well from St. John’s Starfish Foundation. Many donors contributed to these wells and the gifts that made them possible, and it is exciting that almost every branch of the mission (GRO, WASH, the various chapters of Starfish Foundation) was able to organize at least one. We are hoping to have these wells finished within the next 30 days in order to beat the onslaught of the rainy season. Preparations are already well situated – all the signs have already been completed and a hopeful schedule has been set. These signs will differ slightly from our previous wells; at these sites, the sign will be built directly into the wall surrounding the pump so that they last longer and endure less wear. Patrick even told us that there is a banner announcing the St. Benard well, which will be put on his new truck as he drives to the new borehole site. Spirits are high regarding these new wells, and we are optimistic they can be completed before the rainy season truly hits.
New borehole drilling at Euthini Primary School on November 21, 2024.
Construction of these six new wells is where we currently stand in updated progress – but as always, the lookout for new boreholes is already on the horizon. We are always looking for where we can continue to make an impact. Lately we’ve been focusing on North Malawian districts, but we hope for the future to transition to the South and build boreholes there as well. In the next year, we are hoping to reach our 45th, maybe even 50th well (in combination with GRO and Starfish chapters). We could not be more excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds! We would like to humbly thank all our donors for their generous contributions and enthusiastic support. YOU make a difference!
If you would like more information on any of our existing wells, where we are currently building, or on anything else related to WASH and Malawi, check out the other pages on our website, read the other blog posts, or visit the GRO website. Curious about the rainy season and why it’s significant to borehole wells? Tune in to our next blog, which will dive into the Malawi seasons and what that means for the practical aspects of our mission.
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