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Ambassador Bodde Appreciates the Self Help Spirit

Ambassador Peter Bodde  recently launched the Mpala Borehole Project at Chirombo Village in Dowa District.  The project received a grant of $5100 from the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund. 
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Bodde noted the cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders, which he said led to the success of the project.   He added, “The project is another example of the growing partnership between the U.S. and Malawi – a partnership that we continue to expand and one that is achieving real success in taking Malawi farther down the road of development.”

Ambassador Bodde said the project was successfully completed because members of the community recognized the need for safe drinking water and worked hard to achieve their goal, adding “the American people will always help people who are willing to help themselves, that is what the Self-Help Fund is here to do, and you have done your part.  You have helped yourselves.”

District Education Manager for  Dowa Lewis Chakhota lauded the U.S. Government for the project, which he said will help to improve sanitation at the school, motivate pupils – especially girls – to remain in school and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera in the surrounding villages. 

Grade six pupil, Liziness Bintoni, said the borehole will reduce the distance school girls were moving to fetch water from unprotected shallow wells which she said contributed to absenteeism especially among girls.  Liziness is among the 450 pupils at Mpala Primary school that will benefit from the borehole.