In Mazabuka, we are in need of 5 water pumps in 5 large communities. These community members currently walk 1 km to get to clean water. It may not sound that bad- 1 km... But, you and I do not have to carry water, so it is hard to really imagine what this 1 km means. Imagine all of the things you do during the day in which you use water- water to cook, drink, wash your hands, wash the dishes, wash the clothes, water the garden, flush the toilet, take a bath, can you imagine carrying ALL of the water you use in a day's time- 1 km to pick it up and 1 km to bring it home? The average American uses 303 LITERS (80 GALLONS) in one day!!! How many people live in your home with you? 4? For a family of 4, you would need to carry 320 gallons of water EVERY day! How many trips to the pump would that take you? I can tell you one thing- you would not need a membership to the gym! You would get all of the exercise you need just carrying water! (AND, by the way, you can forget going to your job to earn a living because carrying water woud be your full-time job!)
I hope that makes it a little easier to get a better picture of what it is really like, and why the need is so great. The alternative to walking back and forth is to use the contaminated water that can be collected in buckets when it rains- of course, that is only when the water is available. This is not water that should be consumed.
The UN reports 2.2 million deaths annually due to unclean water and sanitation! One-half of the entire world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from illnesses they got from unclean water! A person whose immune system is battling HIV/AIDS, has no chance when confronted with these extra illnesses.
The communities that need water pumps are large communities. I have a list of them here along with the number of people in each community. The largest 2 communities that need the pumps the most based on number of people are Naleza and Makangala, as you can see:
Naleza: 9,760
Makangala: 8,951
Chalimbana: 3,405
Habulembe: 3,405
Mabanga: 2,140
To provide clean water to all 5 communities, it will cost a total of US$42,500. We will provide the pumps as the money is received. Each pump costs a total of US$8,500. That includes the drilling and everything to completion! For Naleza, that is a cost of less than US$1 per inhabitant to provide them with clean water for life!! When the first US$8,500 is raised, they will begin drilling in Naleza. When the second US$8,500 is raised, they will begin drilling in Makangala.
Everyone deserves safe drinking water!
It is estimated that the infant mortality rate can drop by 50% just by having access to clean water!
Gardens blossom and crops can grow! That means more food and less hunger!
Less death and more LIFE!!
If I have convinced you to help lift these communities out of a cycle of illness and poverty, send an e-mail to macandmic@gmail.com It will be worth every kwacha!!
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