Water is life. While access to safe, clean, drinking water is nearly universal in industrialized countries, the people living in rural Malawi must rely on either a standing body of water, rainwater, or if they are fortunate a well. Imagine being a woman in a village in Malawi where the nearest water source for your entire family’s needs is a shallow well or muddy stream over two miles away over rough and sometimes dangerous terrain. Carrying your baby on your back you start out early in the morning with a large container that you will fill with about 40 pounds of dirty, contaminated disease-ridden water, hoist it on your head and walk the two miles back home. You will use the water for cooking, cleaning, and for drinking. You know that drinking this water could put your children at risk of contracting many water-borne diseases, but you have no choice. It is all you have.

Malawi Partners is working to make it possible to have clean safe drinking water for the 14 villages surrounding and including Chuluchosema, so this agonizing choice doesn’t have to be her only option.

Since the beginning of our project over eight wells have been dug, and over ten have been overhauled and made workable again. While we provide the money for the skilled labor and materials that cannot be found locally, such as piping, fixtures, and concrete, the community contributes volunteer labor, materials, including bricks and sand and will elect a village committee to oversee the well. Those leaders and elders of the village must be a part of the decision making the process from the beginning and help with the responsibility of maintaining and guarding the well.

Clean accessible water brings countless advantages to the people. It brings health, pride, and also frees women to pursue education or small business opportunities.

YES, WATER IS LIFE.