How providing clean water improves the lives of children.

Back in May 2025 Think Malawi announced its project, alongside Malawian-based charity Tingathe Development Forum, to build a borehole for the children of Kanyenje Primary School to provide them with safe drinking water.

The nearly 700 students (330 boys and 365 girls) at Kanyenje Primary School aged between the ages of 6 to 14 had to walk over 2km to a local well. This was often overcrowded due to usage by local villages and was frequently in an unsafe condition.

The other option was a nearby contaminated and unhygienic local river which, during the most recent cholera outbreak led to 30 villagers dying in 2022-2023 with many of these deaths coming from the school children.

Mrs Grace Phiri, a parent, used to worry about sending her children to school: "Would they drink contaminated water? Would they be safe? Now I have peace of mind ... Their school performance has improved so much."

In July the borehole was completed and now we know the significant improvement it has had on the 700 children at Kanyenje Primary School and the local community through its safe clean drinking water.

Below are the 4 key improvements the borehole has provided:

1. Time Saved on Water Collection: Previously, the children spent 60-90 minutes walking to fetch water now it is only 1-2 minutes.

2. School Attendance and Retention: Attendance has increased by 25% since the project completion and dropout rates, particularly among girls, have decreased by 40%.

   1. The water is especially useful for the girls to manage their menstrual hygiene reducing their absenteeism during their periods.

3. Water Flow and Reliability: The borehole produces approximately 1,200 litres of clean and fresh water per hour, providing water for the school and community.

4. Community Health and Hygiene: There has been a reported reduction in 85% waterborne diseases. The wider community has also reported improved hygiene practices due to the availability of clean water, including regular handwashing and proper food preparation.

Chisomo Phiri at the school has reported since the borehole: “We have not treated a single cholera case this term. The new borehole has brought health and peace.”

The future of the well is in safe hands with the training of 30 members of the community in well maintenance and monitoring overseen by a 10 person Wells Management Committee. Additionally the community contributes to a Water Maintenance Fund every 4 months which is sufficient to keep the well operational.

A member of the Wells Management Committee Ellen Banda has praised the impact of the project on the community and herself:

"The training we received has empowered us to take ownership of this borehole. We know how to maintain it and ensure it serves our community for years to come. As a woman, it

makes me proud to be responsible for such a vital resource for our community."

We have covered this project along its entire history, from the initial findings, the borehole's construction, and the fantastic results we have now. It's great to see the positive impact this project has had on the community. We regularly share similar articles on our website. There are other ways to also stay updated through our social media such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X or join our monthly newsletter.