Winning the Water Battle

The Muyila family has been careful – and lucky. In their sub-Saharan African village, situated in the beautiful but remote Henga Valley, nearly everyone has been infected with some kind of waterborne disease.

Invisible Killers

The invisible killers include malaria, typhoid, and cholera.

Children are especially vulnerable. By some estimates, nearly 24,000 children die each day simply because their communities lack safe drinking water.

The Muyilas, like their neighbors, traditionally walked long distances to collect water. Or they drew water from the nearby Kasitu River that flows through the valley. The water– shared by lions and other wildlife – is contaminated with raw sewage.

Hope for the Future

Careful to boil their water, the Muyila family has sidestepped death. But concern for their friends and neighbors motivated them to join a community group organized by Outreach International.

Child draws clean water from the village well.

The villagers quickly identified the lack of clean water as their number-one threat.

“We didn’t know anything about working together for a better future,” says Mr. Muyila.

But through their own hard work, and supported by Outreach International, the community was able to plan for and direct the construction of three community wells.

“This success didn’t come easily, though,” Mr. Muyila points out. “People’s participation was limited by hunger, sickness, and the need to find piecework in order to provide for their families.”

Despite these challenges, the Malawians worked diligently. For the first time, they had reason to hope that the future could be different from the past. Not just for one child or one family…but for the entire community.

“We realized it was much easier to win the water battle as a group rather than to fight it alone,” Mr. Muyila explains.

“We Now Know How to Achieve Our Own Goals”

 Today, the people of Njakwa, Malawi have six wells. With safe, accessible water, disease and diarrhea-related deaths have been drastically reduced. In addition, clean water is being used to irrigate crops. Larger yields are generating income for other food and necessities.

Speaking with Mr. Muyila, you realize that the people of Njakwa are winning the battle against another invisible threat: the isolation and hopelessness that are ever-present in areas facing massive poverty.

It’s what happens when villagers are responsible for their own victories, rather than passive recipients of a handout. They tap a different kind of well. An inner well that draws dignity, determination, and hope that will continue to nourish Njakwa.

 “We feel ready to solve other issues,” says Mr. Muyila. “We now know how to achieve our own goals.”