4D Village, Mutoko, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe

The 200 residents of 4D Village were cast into a water crisis when their hand pump broke down. The breakdown was caused by insufficient upkeep. It took two people to pump the handle, and the well provided very little water. The only alternative was for the women and children, the primary water collectors, to walk six kilometers round trip to get water from another pump. Because water was so difficult to access, the community members rationed it strictly. They were often thirsty and did not have enough water for their chores.

The lack of water also meant that the residents had little means of practicing sanitation and hygiene. Poor hygiene perpetuated the spread of illnesses in the community. When the community members were ill, they suffered physically but also lost time working to provide for their families. The water crisis was harming them in many ways, and they remembered how water access was once simpler and safer.
Community leaders became familiar with our mission and knew that working with them seemed like a smart solution. Once they had made a request for aid, our staff responded by making a visit to the community to assess what they could do to help. They arrived, surveyed the area, and spoke to many residents. They decided the best course of action was to rehabilitate the existing, dysfunctional pump in the community.

The staff soon returned and set to work on the rehabilitation project. They dredged out the well shaft until they reached a safe aquifer of water 56 meters deep. They performed water quality tests to ensure that the water was safe for drinking. They then cased the well, installed a submersible pump, poured a sanitary well platform, and enclosed the well with a protective cement wall. The project was complete!
Our team wanted to help the community learn how to manage their safe water sustainably. They therefore guided the community’s nomination of a water caretaker. The caretaker will oversee the use and care of the pump and also collect a small fee from each household in order to save a fund for any future repair costs. The residents are proud to act as change agents and stewards of a community-driven solution to water access. The gift of safe water restores not only their health but also their dignity.

A sanitation and hygiene promotional activity was held to help the residents prepare for a future of sustained health. A total of 30 participants of all ages were engaged through interactive and conversational components. They learned how to use their new pump properly to prevent damage and to store water in sanitary ways. The community members also learned about the nature of germ spread and disease transmission. The staff taught them the best way to safeguard against these threats. They led a demonstration to this effect and gave the participants the chance to practice proper technique.

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