Tap Water Project

About this Project

In response to the critical issue of inadequate access to safe and clean drinking water, Mkwera Village Development Committee (VDC) is taking a crucial step by using $13,388.96 to establish a water system at Matanda Primary School. This piped water initiative is poised to address the pressing issue of insufficient safe water sources. Presently, both the school and community members rely on an unsafe stream as their primary source of water. The lack of safe water has especially taken a toll on the school, leading to challenges in teacher retention, leaving the school with only two teachers. Additionally,the absence of accessible water has amplified gender-based violence within the community. Women have been disproportionately affected, enduring long and unsafe journeys to fetch water, thus increasing their vulnerability to such incidents. The installation of the water system will significantly improve the lives of both the school and the broader community.

The Matanda Tap Water Project has transformed access to safe, reliable water for Matanda Primary School and its surrounding community. The project delivered a borehole, a 5,000-litre solar-powered water tank, and two functional water taps at the school — bringing clean water within reach of 707 participants, including 530 students, 7 teachers, and 170 community members. With safe water now available on-site, students no longer need to fetch water from unsafe sources, freeing up valuable time for learning, and teachers are able to start classes on time . Reflecting on the project's impact, the Established Field Partner, a permanent resident of the community, stated, “The project will help improve teacher retention at the school by addressing the long-standing challenge of inadequate access to a reliable source of safe drinking water, which had previously contributed to frequent teachers relocation to other schools.