In 2019, three members of the Rotary Club of LaSalle

Centennial went to Malawi, Africa after learning about

a remote community in the region of Chilumba from

Laura, a local Windsor resident who had lived and worked
there.  A study done in 2012 had identified three
critical needs: improved health, improved education
and access to water. This community was in need of
clean water to help develop the local high school,
eliminate water borne diseases and alleviate the
hardship that fetching clean water had on the women
of the community. 

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The purpose of the 2019 trip was to complete a needs assessment and determine if the project met the criteria for Rotary partnership. The Rotary members learned that the local leaders were prepared to invest the labour, the land and to commit to being stewards of this project if Rotary provided the funds to get the infrastructure for the water project. That was the compelling evidence they needed to move forward and apply for a Rotary grant for this project.

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In addition to local club agreement, Rotary grants undergo a meticulous review before being approved to determine that funds will be properly used and that the project will be completely sustainable by the local people. The grant is submitted by two clubs for review and approval: an international partner (the Rotary Club of LaSalle-Centennial) and the local Rotary club (the Rotary Club of Mzuzu). Both clubs are responsible for raising funds for the project (which are matched by Rotary International) and meeting all the criteria outlined in the grant process.

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The Scope of the Project

A site has been identified as a potential well field which will act as source of groundwater. The well field site is approximately 770 meters from the future tank site at the Wasambo High School.

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The plan for the water supply and transmission system includes construction of three pump houses, each equipped with a single submersible pump. Water from each pump house will be delivered to a valve chamber. The valve chamber will combine water from different pump houses so that it can be delivered through a single pipeline to a 500,000 L steel ground storage tank.

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This plan was developed by volunteer engineers from the US (University of Dayton, Ohio) in partnership with local community members and the leadership of Wasambo High School and presented to Wasambo Education Foundation and Determined to Develop.

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The Cost of the Project

The following cost estimates were obtained by the project team in August of 2019 and the work of raising the funds began.

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ITEM COST                 ESTIMATE IN US Dollars

Well drilling                            $12,535

Pumping units                       $27,600

Pump houses                        $28,133

Valve chamber                      $19,478

Transmission line                 $63,414

Ground storage tank         $105,437

TOTAL COST                        $256,597

 

AS OF DECEMBER 2020, THIS PROJECT WAS FULLY FUNDED AND WORK BEGAN TO BRING THIS MUCH NEEDED RESOURCE TO THE SCHOOL AND THE TOWN. ON MARCH 14, 2021, WE RECEIVED A PICTURE OF THE COMPLETED WATER TANK FROM OUR FRIENDS IN WASAMBO!! SEE THE PROGRESS BELOW.