SHIMUKUNI PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL,
CHIBOMBO, ZAMBIA
FUNDED MAY 4, 2022
Students and teachers at the Shimukuni Primary and Secondary Schools in Chibombo, Zambia struggle to focus when their bellies are full of parasites, or they are weak and dehydrated due to constant diarrhea. Lack of safe water access and poor hygiene practices are a common situation in the community. Women and children daily collect water for their families.
When the only clean water source breaks, due to high demand and overuse, families must go back to hand dug unprotected contaminated wells. The area has grown dramatically and the current well can not handle the demand for access to safe water. A hand pump well can supply water to 450 people, but this community has almost 2,000 people trying to use the pump.
THE COMMUNITY’S OLD HAND PUMP,
WHICH HAS BROKEN FROM OVERUSE
Youngsters are sent to the river to fill jerry cans with polluted water for drinking.
Because of growth, this community needs a clean water source capable of much higher capacity than a hand pump can provide. Living Water International will install submersible electric pump and a storage tank. The pump will be powered by a solar array. In addition, 5 water kiosks will be installed to distribute clean water more efficiently.
Also, Living Water International will provide training and backstopping support to local water user committees and local government structures. Water users will pay small monthly water user fees by household and these funds will be collected and managed by the water user committee for future repairs and maintenance of the system.
COMPLETED OCTOBER 11, 2022
Each day, the Shimukuni School in central Zambia welcomed over 1,000 students through its doors. Unfortunately, the campus only had a single well to supply the staff and students with water for each day. The well couldn’t keep up with the demand, and eventually broke down altogether, leaving the school community completely waterless. Students and teachers had no choice but to seek out alternative water sources outside of the school. Oftentimes, the closest sources were hand-dug wells that were unsealed from the elements, making them easily contaminated by bacteria. Sicknesses like cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea quickly spread throughout the student population. Children couldn’t attend school when they were sick, and they fell behind on lessons. When they were able to attend class, thirst distracted the students from fully participating.
Enock Tonga is a 45-year-old teacher at the Shimukuni School. He shared his experience, saying, “When our well broke down, school pupils and teachers were getting water from hand-dug wells. The water quality was poor and diarrhea cases were common among the pupils and teachers. Lack of safe drinking water was a major challenge for us. Absenteeism was frequent. Without safe water, the school had poor hygiene practices.”
Mr. Tonga and his fellow teachers wished they could provide an effective and safe learning environment for the students, but they knew they couldn’t accomplish this without a consistent and plentiful source of safe water. They began looking for outside help.
The Living Water staff attaches piping to the rehabilitated borehole.
A Living Water staff member finishes constructing the elevated tank.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
COMMUNITY DETAILS
| Pump Type: | solar submersible |
| Project Type: | new complex water system |
| Depth of Well: | 40 m |
| Coliform Bacteria: | absent |
| Previous Water Source: | hand pump |
| Location: | rural school |
| Total Users: | 1,900 |
| Main Water Collectors: | women and children |
A teacher gathers water from one of the tap stands throughout the school.
The Living Water staff led the students at Shimukuni School through several sanitation and hygiene lessons, so that they can use their new safe water effectively. During these interactive sessions, the community members learned about the importance of improved pit latrines as a defense against feco-oral disease transmission. The staff also explained the importance of proper handwashing and gave the children time to practice. Finally, they emphasized how poor personal hygiene can impact the health of the community at large, through an activity that uses glitter to symbolize the spread of germs. Students left the interactive lessons energized and equipped to better their health.
In addition to providing safe water, your gift allowed the Living Water staff to share the Gospel with the students and community members. During an evangelistic service, Living Water staff explained that Jesus cares for both their physical and spiritual thirst. This presentation of the gospel was tied to the message of John 4:13-14, where Jesus offers his abundant living water to everyone.
Mr. Tonga shared the impact of the new water system, saying, “The pupils’ attendance will improve, diarrhea cases will be reduced, and teachers will have enough time to attend to their students’ needs. Learning will improve as well as hygiene services and practices. “Thank you for giving water, for life, in Jesus’ name!”
Your Impact
Ingomar Living Waters, thank you for providing safe water for the Shimukuni School! Because of your generosity, students can trust that their physical, emotional, and intellectual needs will be met while at school.
They no longer worry about drinking contaminated water and falling ill. Additionally, your generosity helps keep students in the classroom by securing their health. Your gift has made it possible for everyone in the community to access plentiful, safe water that will sustain the residents’ daily needs and livelihood, fostering unity among neighbors.
Job 11:16-18 (NIV) says, “You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” These words reflect the hope of the students at the Shimukuni School, brought to them through your gift. Now, whenever they collect water, they will be reminded of God’s divine and faithful hand.
All projects are made possible by World Changers.