About the Project
The project consisted of repairing damaged boreholes in two village communities.
Location
Traditional Authority Kapeni, Blantyre North, Southern Region, Malawi
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | April 2025 |
| Luena Investment | $1,080 |
| CBO Partner | Chinansungwi Relief Hand Organisation (CHIREHO) |
| Village | Jamusoni2 village and Kandiwo village |
| Country | Malawi |
| # of Children Impacted | 1,350 |
| Community Contribution | $550 USD for bricklayer fee; venue for training; materials, including quarry stones, bricks, and sand |
Limited Access to Clean Water Impacts Both Health and Education
Residents in Traditional Authority Kapeni suffer from limited access to safe water and sanitation services. A significant number of people within the district drink water from rivers and traditional wells that pose health risks, especially to children. Waterborne diseases are also a leading cause of death among adults, especially during the rainy season where rains wash germ-infested debris into the unprotected wells.
A subsequent negative impact of the reduced access to water has been the increased distance children and women must travel to look for water for domestic use. Fetching water from wells is primarily the job of women and children, especially young girls. During the dry season, between June and December, walks of over 5 kilometers in search of water are not uncommon. Many school-aged girls are unable to attend school regularly because they are needed to fetch water for the household, or because they must watch younger siblings at home while their mothers are away fetching water.
Repaired Boreholes Improve Community Health and Wellbeing
The project aimed at repairing two water boreholes which were not functioning. The donation from Luena Foundation was used for the following activities and items: buying cement, hiring a Borehole Technician, paying to transport materials, payment of maintenance fee for WASHtabs, drainage of pits, and buying water borehole spare parts. Access to these functioning boreholes has saved time for women and girls in the community and is expected to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases by 60%.
An experienced technician trained 2 people from the community on how to do minor borehole repairs. In addition, a committee of 10 members (4 men and 6 women) was established to monitor the operationalization of the boreholes, water sanitation and hygiene, fundraising, and community resource mobilization.
Meet our Partner Community-Based Organization
Chinansungwi Relief Hand Organization (CHIREHO) is a local Non Governmental Organization (NGO) and a registered Community Based Organization (CBO). CHIREHO operates in Traditional Authority Kapeni, targeting the entire general population of 30,000 people. CHIREHO is currently implementing a number of development projects targeting both the underprivileged and marginalized people in the areas of education; health; food security; water, hygiene, and sanitation; economic empowerment; and environment.
To learn more about our partner organization, click here.
