By Odiwuor Opiyo
MANSA, JANUARY 14, 2022 (CISA) – People in Chimese, in the Zambian province of Luapula are beneficiaries of the ‘Clean Water Initiative’ funded by the US development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
The project at St James Parish in Chimese includes a borehole; drilled deep enough to provide water all year round, a 22 foot-high tank stand, a solar pump and a water reticulation network.
Father Gus Baek the director of the Salesian Missions said, “Having access to proper sanitation brings a sense of dignity to the children and families we serve in our programs. Improving water access ensures that students are working and learning in an environment that promotes proper hygiene and has safe drinking water, reducing the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those in our schools and keep them away from important study time.”
According to the news outlet, in and around Chimese, it is the responsibility of women and children to provide water for their families; sometimes having to walk kilometres or more in a day.
The project is poised to help 15 more villages besides Chimese, which has a population of about 6500 families and about 500 who come to the parish on Sundays will be able to use the water facilities. Pupils at St James Pre-School, about 200 in number who are mostly orphaned or hail from single mother parenthoods are also among those who will directly benefit from the project.
The Salesian Missions also funded another ‘Clean Water Initiative’ project in Amafonso, Ghana. The mission sunk a borehole and installed a submersible water pump set to directly impact at least 215 villagers.
One of the villagers expressing gratitude reportedly said, “You have given a great gift. It is a huge grace for us in these times,”
Most residents in the village depend on water streams, which are contaminated by human and animal waste. The project is a great stride in alleviating the villagers’ suffering by providing clean water for domestic consumption.
