Hope for Haiti donates borehole to communities
By Allen Kaombe, Communications Officer

The Hope for Haiti, a Canadian humanitarian organization, through the church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod recently handed over 4 boreholes it constructed for communities that lacked clean water.

The handing over ceremony was held at Chaweza community, Zomba and drew representatives from the communities benefiting from the borehole project. The function was facilitated by Blantyre Synod Health department and the Moderator of Chaweza CCAP Church. The guest of honour was Blantyre Synod vice Moderator Rev. Rodney Bona.

The borehole construction project was meant to provide clean and readily available water to the target communities. Hope for Haiti international contracted the Christian Service Committee to drill the boreholes for the communities, but the project was facilitated CCAP Blantyre Synod through the Health department.

Borehole construction project follows a tour to explore areas of need which was carried out by a team from Hope for Haiti, Canada. The team’s immediate recommendation under the guidance of Blantyre Synod was to construct boreholes in areas of Chaweza, Zomba, Kasenjere, Ntcheu, Lomoni, Zomba and Mpasakamwa, Zomba.

While touring Mpasakamwa village, the team came across a pregnant woman drawing stagnant rain water from a swamp. Moved with mercy, the team decided to offer Mpasakamwa a borehole.

Rev. Bona said when Hope for Haiti decided to help the communities out their water problems it was an indication that the communities were vulnerable and therefore needed timely assistance; as a result, he said the communities should extremely consider ways of caring the boreholes to avoid breakdowns.

“If the boreholes are not looked after, it means we are inviting the water problem again. To avoid breakdowns, we have to put down structures that can assist us to take care of the boreholes,” he said.

Rev. Bona asked the communities to desist form personalizing such community projects which are meant to benefit all the people saying the boreholes were meant to benefit even people from other communities who walk by the boreholes.

He assured the communities that Blantyre Synod would continue identifying areas of need and bringing in help as the need might rise.

The Group village headman Chaweza thanked Hope for Haiti through Blantyre Synod for the boreholes which his communities have benefited. He said water was a problem before the construction of the boreholes but now the people are seeing the difference and their lives have been simplified.

“People were drawing stagnant water from swamps, some were even walking long distances to find water but now the problem concerning water has been dealt with. Thank you very much,” said Group village headman Chaweza.

To ensure that the boreholes are being taken care of, the communities instituted committees to facilitate the running of boreholes. The committees are in the process of building barriers to restrict kids from playing with the boreholes or other people who might cause breakdowns to the boreholes.

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