Physical Health Zimbabwe Project #42914

Help Us Provide Access to Clean Water in Zimbabwe

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Jan 4, 2021
Clean water for all in Africa!

By Shayle Havemann | Project leader

Introduction

2 billion people in sub-saharan Africa lack access to clean water! Through local partners we provide rural communities with access to clean water to rural schools to give them the opportunity to stay healthy, reduce water collection time for girls and the chance to maintain community gardens.

Report

By partnering up with local ngos and social entrepreneurs we are bringing innovative and sustainable clean water solutions to rural communities. This will not only ensure good health and well being, but provide an opportunity to generate an income through agriculture which will break the cycle of poverty, and eventually allow communities to independently afford building their infrastructure to access water. Just USD50 will allow us to purchase 1 drilling meter!

Thank you for your support

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Sep 8, 2020
Going to great lengths to get water

By Tilda Christensson | Head of Project Development in Africa

Dear Supporters,

The more time passes, the more evidence is gathered that drought is happening and affecting the most vulnerable in our communities. Without water access in the homes, the rural population are reliant on community boreholes far away from their homes. This causes a constant chore of walking to collect water for drinking, sanitation and watering of their agricultural land. Thus, as we more frequently are reminded about climate change, more and more boreholes start to run dry due to the lack of rain causing many women and girls to return with empty buckets.

To not have a tap in the house is the reality for the majority of people living in rural areas in Zimbabwe which constitutes 67% of the population. Therefore, to collect water is a part of the daily routine, a routine which has many side effects on gender equality but also education as girls are forced to walk up to 15km to reach a community borehole in rural Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has just gone through their dry season, which is standard for the country in Southern Africa. However, normally the previous season would have collected enough rain to last until the following rainy season resulting in a natural and functioning order. But as less and less rain falls in Zimbabwe’s drought affected areas every year, and the population and the use of water increases the boreholes run dry faster than ever. Even though the rainy season is still a month or two away, communities and their families are getting worried as more and more boreholes are proven to be empty.

Whilst this has devastating effects on the environment and people who are struggling to survive, it has never been more dangerous to not have sanitation than it is today. Whilst we were all taught about the importance to wash our hands as children, we never got reminded to do it as adults. Until 2020. To now only have to walk 15km to get to the closest boreholes, families are forced to walk twice the distance in search for a secure water source to bring home. And then be faced with the decision if the water should be used for drinking, watering the garden to secure food, or to remain safe from COVID-19.

We are now calling on you to help us ensure that we do not simply provide emergency relief for families suffering from drought by providing access to immediate water sources, but to ensure that we tackle climate change.

It is with your continued support that we can make an impactful and long-lasting impact in the community by tackling the crucial issue of drought. We are grateful for your generosity and it goes without saying that the GVI Trust and all its donors, play a vital role in making a sustainable and impacting difference in Zimbabwe, and a positive contribution in tackling climate change. Your choice to support what we do in the field daily not only provides financial assistance to the projects but helps to bring hope to the community. We look forward to welcoming new and existing to join us on this remarkable journey.

Thank you to our Donors, Fundraisers and Supporters!

With Gratitude,

Africa Drought

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May 12, 2020
The Vermi-Aquaponic Project is taking shape

By Tilda Christensson | Head of Project Development in Africa

Dear Supporters,

In the beginning of the year the GVI Trust was busy collaborating with a local social enterprise, and a school in rural Zimbabwe about the implementation of a vermi-aquaponic system project. The VA-system is a climate friendly gardening solution which only uses 10% of the water normally used whilst it produces both fish and vegetable produce at a faster rate. In March we were finally able to start the process and get our hands dirty in the dry soil in Chivi District.

In the beginning of March our Head of Project Development for Africa travelled down to a remote school in the Chivi district together with a team of enthusiastic entrepreneurs and labourers from Zimbabwe’s capital. During a week's time, the team was going to work together with the school children which study agriculture in constructing the VA-system and learn about its functions and its development. It was easy to say that the children and teachers were excited about the project, even though the younger children had difficulties picturing the finished product. Thus, that did not stop them from volunteering in the construction project and asking tons of questions to the climate-friendly agricultural specialists. And for words spread quickly. Whilst the work at the school had been announced and consulted with the local council, we only needed to put the shovel in the soil before neighbouring schools, government departments and community members wanted to know the details so that they not only could do it at their own institutions, but also in their own backyard.

Whilst the team was busy with the heavy lifting, the school had selected a group of dedicated agricultural students which were going to be the group responsible for the project. To give the group of 15 students and three teachers the greatest opportunity for success, they participated in a workshop focusing on climate-friendly agricultural methods. What makes the VA-system so unique is that the crops produced do not need daily watering with water carried from the local borehole. Instead, the vegetable crops are connected to a fishpond which though a water pump run by solar panels pumps the water from the fishpond, into the vegetable garden and then back to the fishpond. This way, the same water is circulating reducing water wastage. In addition, as the water is circulating through the fishpond the water becomes more nutritious resulting in faster growth and more frequent harvesting periods. As the plants get the nutriun from the fish, there is no need for chemicals or inorganic fertilisers. Finally, as no fertilisers are used, or ground soil is being watered, there is no impact on the direct agricultural landscape, limiting the effect on climate change.

As you can read, it is not strange that the school, students and the neighbouring community got excited and wanted to learn about the process!

Thank you to our Donors, Fundraisers and Supporters!

With Gratitude,

Africa Drought

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