Day 2 - A rural community school and village

Our second day was spent in the rural Chipembele ward to the south-west of Monze.  In the morning we visited we visited Chiyoobola School and in the afternoon we visited the village of Mavwali.

In 2008 WaterAid implemented a project in partnership with Monze District Council to install a water point, toilets and hand washing facilities at Chiyoobola School.  Around 900 pupils ranging in age from six to 15 years old attend the school.

One of the school toilets

A large group of children and teachers greeted us at the school.  Formal introductions were made, the Zambian national anthem was sung and the children read a number of short poems inspired by the hygiene education they have received.

We were told that since the water point, toilets and hand washing facilities were installed the instances of diarrhoea and other water borne diseases (such as cholera and dysentery) amongst the children have been virtually eradicated.

Another benefit is the increased attendance of girls once they reach maturity.  Before the toilets were installed, girls would often miss school, however they can now take a bath in safety while they are at school.

Groups of children are selected to collect water from the water point on a daily basis and bring it to fill up the tanks that feed the hand washing facilities.  They were all aware of the reasons for using the toilets and washing their hands afterwards.  Children have been able to take home the hygiene messages to pass onto their parents and other family members.

Later in the morning a VIP visited the school - His Royal Highness Chief Ufwenuka is in charge of the local area.  Formal introductions are regarded very seriously and we were all briefed in advance on how we should greet him.  We had to kneel in front of him, clap five times and then shake hands, while looking humble!
 After lunch the pupils entertained us by reading some more poems and then singing and dancing.  Although nowhere near as good as the children, our group of supporters did join in with the dancing when asked - much to everyones amusement!

We arrived at the village of Mavwali (with HRH Chief Ufwenuka accompanying us), to yet another big welcome with singing and dancing.  There are 32 households and a population of 365 in the village.  WaterAid worked with its partners to install a water point for the village and toilets for every household.

A map showing the location of toilets in the village

The head man of the village explained how WaterAid had told them why so many people were ill or had died, but initially they did not believe them.  After a while they began to accept the messages they were being told and agreed to build some latrines - WaterAid even provided the cement to help them do this.  Since they have had toilets they aren't ill so often and don't need to visit the hospital so often.  This example reinforces the fact that the 'soft' sensitisation and education process is so important and that it isn't a case of simply providing the 'hard' infrastructure only.

There are two committees within the village - one to maintain the water point (they have been trained to be able to maintain the water pump and fix it if necessary) and one to provide the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHE).

Angelina with her 'tippy tap'
hand washing station

The villagers are still ambitious and were expressing their desire for more water points.  Because the households are quite widespread they still have to walk quite a way to get their water supply and in the rainy season a stream can prevent some households from reaching the existing water point.

At the moment each family grows enough crops for themselves.  If they had better access to water they may be able to grow more crops and sell any excess so that they can fund their children's education.

The picture on the left shows Angelina with her 'tippy tap' which is located just outside her latrine.  They use ash as a cleansing agent and have a foot pedal to tip up a water container.  There is a plant beneath which will only grow if the tap is being used on a regular basis - a simple way of checking whether or not people are washing their hands after going to the toilet!

Day 1 - A day in the life of

Our first full day in Zambia saw us visiting the rural village of Haboombe in the south-west of Zambia.  After a very early start from our base in Monze, we had a three hour, mainly off-road drive - including crossing two rivers - to reach the village.  Seven 4x4 vehicles arriving at the village must have looked quite a sight!

Greeted by lots of singing and dancing

The greeting we received from the village was amazing. There was music, singing, dancing and an air of general excitement.  Everyone was so pleased to see us and were so welcoming.

After a formal greeting and introduction by the Chief of the village we went in pairs to spend the day with different families so that we could experience 'a day in the life of' and try to understand more fully the problems that they face in their day-to-day lives without access to safe water or sanitation facilities.

My colleague Grant and I spent the day with Onesmas, his wife Imelda and their family.  They have five children ranging in age from 15 to three years old.  The eldest daughter, Caroline, didn't live with them, but with her grand-mother in a different village so that she was able to go to school.

We were able to find out what the family does in a typical day. This included collecting water, preparing food, looking after their animals and tending the crops in their field.

Imelda pounding roots to make a sweet beer


In the dry season the families from Haboombe have to walk over 9km to collect water.  Imelda told us that she would rise at 3am so that she could start this essential daily journey.  She also told us that they have to use water very sparingly at this time of year because it is such a precious resource.  Some families even move away from the village during this time of year so that they can be closer to a water supply.

During the rainy season (which it was when we visited) there is a stream a few hundred metres from their household.  Although this is more convenient as they can collect water a number of times a day, the water in the stream is not clean and safe.  The stream is used for a variety of activities - washing clothes, washing pots and pans as well as bathing.  However, animals also use the stream and other pollutants wash into it when it rains.

As a result of having to use dirty water the family, and in particular the children are often ill with diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.  When they are ill the nearest health clinic is also a 9km walk, so it is difficult to get proper medical assistance.

During our visit I needed to go to the toilet so I asked Imelda where I could go.  She seemed embarrassed when she told me that I would have to go to the bushes just behind their household as there were no toilets in the village.  When I returned Imelda told me that she didn't like doing this as it wasn't safe or hygienic.

Onesmas ready for lunch

Later in the afternoon I walked with Imelda to collect water from the stream.  It is quite a steep, unstable path down to the stream and once there we had to wade across to the opposite side.  Imelda dug a hole in the sandy bank and waited for water to begin filling the hole.  Then we used a shallow bowl to scoop the water up and pour it into a 20 litre container.  I tried lifting the container but struggled to move it more than a couple of metres.  Yet Imelda, who is a very petite woman, lifted the container onto her head and carried it back up the steep slope to her home.

WaterAid is beginning to work with the households in Haboombe village to understand in more detail the problems that they face and to begin the education process that provides health and hygiene messages.  It is hoped that within the next few years there will be a water point in the village and latrines for every household.

Internet access at last...

Unfortunately I haven't been able to get internet access until now.  I hope to provide more details and some photos over the coming days, but below are some of the trip highlights which I hope are of interest to you:

Day 1 - A day in the life of
We spent the day with a rural community (a three hour mainly off-road drive) who don't have access to clean drinking water or proper sanitation facilities.  In the dry season they have to walk over 9km to the nearest water point.  In the rainy season they have access to a stream near the village, but animals drink from it and the community wash and bathe there.  This water is not safe for drinking but currently the village has no choice.

Day 2 - A rural community school and village
In the morning we visited a school that has a water point, toilets and hand washing facilities.  These facilities combined with hygiene education has resulted in the instances of water born diseases amongst the children falling to virtually none.  In the afternoon we visited a village that also has a water point and latrines.  By speaking to the families living there, we were able to understand the benefits that they have gained since these facilities had been available.

Day 3 - Peri-urban work
We visited an area where the water utility has provided a pumped water supply with assistance from WaterAid.  Although supplies are intermittent, families are able to obtain water at their homes or from nearby water points.  In the afternoon we visited another area, spoke to the householders and helped with some construction work - completing a family's latrine by putting a roof on it.

Day 4 - Solar powered water treatment and water kiosks
We saw how a solar panel had been installed to make the treatment process more sustainable.  We then visited a water kiosk in the village where people are able to go to buy and collect their drinking water within easy walking distance.

Day 5 - High density slums
This slum has built up in Lusaka over a number of years and currently does not have adequate access to safe drinking water or proper sanitation facilities.  We did see examples of some latrines being built, but also saw the awful reality of people having to use a local stream to wash themselves, their clothes and their pots and pans, despite the fact it was obviously filthy and covered with rubbish.

Only one day to go...

Today is the last day before I travel to Zambia with WaterAid.  I have been finishing off my packing and hoping that I don't exceed my 23kg luggage allowance!

On Thursday I recorded my first ever interview - with a local radio station, Radio Cambridgeshire.  They are hoping to broadcast it early next week, so I hope that I did a good job getting across the right message about the great work that WaterAid does to help some of the world's poorest people get access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

Zambia were successful in their semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations and will play in the final on Sunday evening - kick-off will be about the same time that we leave Heathrow en route to Lusaka.  By the time we land on Monday morning we will know whether or not the nation will be celebrating.

Fingers crossed that we have internet access at our hotel in Monze.  Until then I won't know how often I will be able to keep you up to date with what we are doing...

What will we be doing in Zambia?

We've just receivd our schedule for our trip.  After a briefing meeting with the local WaterAid staff, we will be heading to the Monze district, which is a 3 hour journey by road from Lusaka.

Our first full day will be 'a day in the life of' where we will spend a whole day with a family in a rural community pre-intervention.

Dimitria Lubinga collecting water from an unsafe
open well that is 20 minutes walk from her house,
Habeenzu village, Zambia
WaterAid/Anna Kari

We will be going to fetch water with the women and children in the morning (possibly in a similar situation to the picture on the left) as well as helping with other household activities throughout the day.

Over the course of the week we will visit a variety of locations - rural, urban and peri-urban - seeing different stages of the intervention process.

The Chipolopolo

Zambia’s national football team is doing well in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations – winning their group and then their quarter final match against Sudan – they are now in the semi-finals, playing Ghana this evening (8 February).

The team is nick-named the Chipolopolo (the copper bullets) as copper is one of the nation's main exports.

The final is the day before we arrive in Zambia, so it would be great if they could make it all the way...

What a motley crew

I thought I should introduce you to the group travelling to Zambia.

There are 12 people from the water industry (pictured right), plus four from WaterAid.

We all met for the first time at WaterAid's head office in London on 6 January for a briefing meeting.  Since then we have been exchanging e-mails on all manner of Zambia related issues, including which injections we needed and the best price for maleria tablets!