Cassava Basins Save Women and Young Girls

Ambassador Alan Eastham on July 12, 2006 handed over 675 improved cassava wells in Nkhata Bay District of the Northern Region of Malawi.  In September 2005 the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund granted the Nkhata Bay Cassava Wells Project $ 9,050 to buy cement and pay skilled labor.  The 675 concrete wells (basins) will benefit most especially women and young girls in over 10,000 households in 180 villages.

The compelling reasons for funding this project are three-fold:

First, sex predators:  Prior to concrete wells, cassava was fermented in open ponds (dambos) or in swamps along the lakeshore.  Traditionally, this chore is a “woman’s job.”  Women and young girls have been victims of sex predators as these ponds are isolated from residential quarters.  Second, there are health hazards associated with the open pond fermentation arising from various contaminants including grazing animals and humans.  People are predisposed to parasitic infections from lichens and bilharzias.  Third, there are physical hazards such as crocodile scares, snake bites and seasonal floods that wash away cassava roots.

Project manager, Mrs. Emily Chintu referred to these improved facilities as “a dream come true.”  In his welcome address to over 400 people present at the ceremony, the District Commissioner of Nkhata Bay, Mr. Nguluwe, thanked the U.S. Embassy for the improved health that his people will henceforth enjoy from improved cassava wells.  Mr. Nguluwe described development as “improvement in the welfare of people.”  Honorable Aleke Banda, Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay South was overjoyed with the quality of concrete wells.  He thanked both the American people for the grant and the local community for undertaking the project, emphasizing the safety that women and young girls would enjoy.  Honorable Aleke Banda lauded the good will of the American people and requested for additional funding to construct more concrete wells.  He invited the Ambassador to come back and inspect other US-funded community projects in his constituency.

Responding to good will messages from local authorities, Ambassador Alan Eastham emphasized the main objective of the Special Self-Help fund – To meet the urgent needs of community members.  Ambassador Eastham was impressed with the project concept and quality of concrete basins which he described as “an exemplary Self-Help project.”  The project will benefit a large population.  Ambassador Eastham thanked the population for contributing sand and labor and concluding: “You have shown that you can do it.  You should therefore replicate this wonderful concept on your own elsewhere.”

By Tony Ayuninjam, Self-Help Fund Administrator