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Ambassador Bodde Launches PlayPumps

Access to clean drinking water is critical for human survival and it is an essential ingredient for improving the lives of those living in poverty in developing countries such as Malawi.  With access to clean water, children and their families live longer with healthier lives.  It is the critical first step for addressing a wide range of health, education, gender and economic issues.

Despite this significance, access to potable water for pupils at Chimutu Primary School and nearby communities on the outskirts of Lilongwe has been a distant dream until recently when PlayPumps - Water For All installed a "playpump" at the school.  Funded by USAID, PlayPumps - Water For All entered into a three-year agreement with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development in 2008, in which the organization committed to an initial pilot of 100 pumps for primary schools in Malawi. 

Speaking at the project launch at Chimutu Primary School, U.S. Ambassador Peter Bodde said the American Government was pleased to be associated with efforts to improve access to clean water, saying “without clean water, children miss school because of sickness, people suffering from HIV/AIDS cannot take their daily medications, and farmers cannot make a living … that is why I am so pleased to be here today, to participate in this event where we are inaugurating an innovative program to provide more and safer drinking water.” 

He noted that the playpumps will provide easy access to clean drinking water, bring joy to children, and lead to improvements in health, education, gender equality, and economic development.  Ambassador Bodde added “today’s event is just the start.  One hundred pumps will be donated to schools in Malawi with the assistance of a wide range of partners including the U.S. Government, Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development, and PlayPumps Water For All.”

In his remarks, Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Mohammed Sidik Mia expressed appreciation for the American Government’s contribution to Malawi’s social and economic development and pledged that “my Ministry will do everything possible to ensure that these facilities do not turn into white elephants.  This drive will enable us to install more playpumps so that more Malawians have access to safe water through this technology.” 

The Minister said one playpump can generate up to 1,400 liters of water per hour from a depth of 40 to 100 meters and added that “this is enough water to bring about increased access to safe water and provide enabling environment for safe hygiene behavior in villages, schools and hospitals within communities serviced by the facility.” 

Playpumps are innovative, sustainable and patented water pumps powered by children at play.  Installed near schools, the Playpumps double as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children.

PlayPumps - Water For All is a recipient of a $10 million U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) grant that will provide 650 water pumps across several African countries.