Bore Holes in Malawi - Bringing both HOPE and Water

In many communities in Sub-Sahara Africa, the need for water is as overwhelming and intense as the need for food. Agrina Majawa lives in Malawi. Here is her story.

Agrina Majawa, 36, has lived in Lilongwe for over 10 years. She washes her clothes and bathes in one of the polluted rivers in the country’s capital city, Lilongwe.
Agrina cannot afford piped water supply from the water board. Even the price of 3 kwacha (2 US cents) per pail from the water kiosks is out of her reach.
A widow, Agrina supports her family of three selling vegetables in the central business district of Lilongwe and says life has not been easy for her family following her husband’s death a few years ago.
She is not alone in her predicament in search of clean water and sanitation. The vendors at the flea market a stone throw away from the Lilongwe River use it for cleaning their wares and vegetables. Along the banks of the river, vendors have constructed temporary toilets. There is a paying toilet at the flea market but most vendors say they cannot afford the 10 kwacha (7 US cents). Instead, they use bushes around and shelters they have constructed to answer the call of nature.

Heart for Africa is working to make a difference in Malawi. We are currently working in the areas of Deya, Ngona Slum and Njewa. Bore holes, a drilled well with a hand pump, have been installed in Deya and Ngoma Slum. We have repaired a bore hole in Njewa so the people there have fresh, clean water again. We have commitments and donations received to place 3 more bore holes in Malawi and we hope to have funding for the 15 more needed by the end of 2007. Each bore hole costs $4,400. In North America, $4,400 doesn’t go very far. It could buy a nice cruise or a used car. But in Malawi, $4,400 can bring fresh water to an entire community, and HOPE to a many hearts.

Agrina’s story is only one of many. There are millions that walk for miles and miles to gather water that will only sustain them for the day. It is inconceivable that there are still those living today who do not have this basic need for water met on a daily basis.

Please join us in bringing water and HOPE to the many precious people in Malawi. How many lives can we touch? How many mouths can we pour clean water into? To how many hearts can we bring HOPE?