Zambian Rotarians focus on clean water for schools

Posted by Tony Gilmore

Schools are critical sites for water and sanitation systems, and excellent launching pads for community service projects with a big impact. Matti Urho, past governor of District 1410 (Åland Islands; part of Finland), had that in mind when he went to the RI Web site to search for water projects based in schools. The one he found eventually led to a 2006 Rotary Foundation Matching Grant project involving the Rotary Club of Livingstone, Zambia, and District 9210 (Malawi; part of Mozambique; Zambia; Zimbabwe). Through the effort, nine boreholes were drilled, benefiting six village schools and three urban schools as well as surrounding communities.

Before the project, each of the village schools served the water needs of about 80 children. Today, each serves up to 200. The boreholes also provide clean water to about 12,000 residents in nearby villages.

"The same year, we had two other Matching Grant projects for boreholes with clubs in the USA and Austria," says Margaret Whitehead, of the Livingstone club. "So we did a total of 15 [boreholes]. We budgeted for 10, but the exchange rate and prices changed, so we were able to do more on each project."

The three boreholes in suburban areas provide clean water to nearly 800 students, many of whom are HIV/AIDS orphans.

The collaboration between Finnish and Zambian clubs went so well that the two districts have partnered again, with plans for six new boreholes for schools in and around Livingstone.

In one rural area, Kanono, a new borehole will mean that children will be able to attend school without having to spend a lot of time fetching water, Whitehead says.

By Anne E. Stein