Mtosa Madzi Abwino Shallow Wells Project

The Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Maureen McGeough, launched the Mtosa Madzi Abwino Shallow Wells Project in Nkhotakota District in the Central Region of Malawi on Thursday June 8, 2006.  The Shallow Wells is a FY 2004 project and had as objective to stem the recurrence of water-borne diseases by providing clean drinking water to over 8,000 people in the Mtosa Health Center Catchment Area comprising 10 villages.  The Self-Help Fund paid for 10 complete hand pumps, cement, plumbing materials and skilled labor.  The community contributed bricks, sand and stones for lining up the wells.  Total Self-Help grant allocated to this project by completion date was $10,327.

In his welcome address, the Traditional Authority (T.A.), Mwadzama, thanked the U.S. Government for their generosity, adding that the entire community of 10 villages could not wait to drink clean, reliable water from their wells.  He referred to the American people as “Real life savers.”  The articulate T.A. thanked Peace Volunteer, Megan Sievert, for successfully completing the project and challenged the youth to emulate Megan’s devotedness.

Representing the Ambassador at the handover ceremony that was attended by Village Headwomen, Village Headmen and about 75 women, men and children, Maureen McGeough thanked the Traditional Authority for his warm words of welcome.  In Maureen’s words: “Water is essential for life, and is a basic human need.”  She stressed the importance of safe water for good health, alluding to previously reported outbreaks of cholera in the Nkhotakota Area as “… graphic testimony” to drinking contaminated water.  Maureen added that: “Each and every one of you can take pride in sharing ownership of these shallow wells.”  She advised community members to set aside funds for maintenance when pumps break.  Finally, Maureen thanked the energetic project manager and Peace Volunteer, Megan Sievert, for her relentless efforts in mobilizing 10 village communities and collaborating with the Self-Help Office to complete the project.

By Tony Ayuninjam, Self-Help Administrator