Malawi JBFI partners with UK Rotary Club, rolls out ‘mobile’ water barrels

The Joyce Banda Foundation International (JBFI) on Friday, July 10, 2015, launched the ‘Rotary Roll Out Water Barrels Programme’ at a colourful ceremony held at JBFI’s Msigalira Free Secondary School for Orphans at Domasi in Zomba.

During the launching ceremony, five students at Msigalira Free Secondary School for Orphans received an Auqaroll water barrel each as a pilot initiative. They are Blessings Chaphuka, Ellena William, Ulemu Kungwaya, Linda Makuwira and Estern Chagona.

Msigalira Free Secondary School for Orphans belongs to The Joyce Banda Foundation.  Msigalira Free Secondary School for Orphans offers free education to boys and girls from child headed households.

According to JBFI Malawi acting managing director, Flora Kaluwire, the programme is aimed at ensuring that fetching water is easier for children and women because they will not have to carry pails of water on their heads anymore.

“Women and children who fetch water especially in rural set-ups will no longer have to use their heads when fetching water as we are committed to providing them with a simple push or pull 30-litre capacity roll-along water barrel with a handle.

“So, apart from the obvious advantage of not having to carry pails of water on the head, using the water barrels shall be a lot quicker and easier; less strenuous and dangerous. It will also increase the amount of water that can be fetched each time,” she said, adding the water barrels take 10 more litres than the ordinary pail.

According to Kaluwire, the water barrels roll across the ground eliminating the need to carry heavy water barrels. She noted that carrying heavy pails of water on the head can damage children’s physique; causes stunting growth and skeletal irregularities.

“They are made from heavy duty plastic; they have high quality tyres on deep rims for excellent ground clearance; and they come complete with fill-up tube and easy removable handle with rust proof ball joints,” she told journalists during the launch.

According to Kaluwire, the Rotary Club of UK have partnered with JBFI to distribute water barrels to needy communities in Malawi and other countries in Africa. She said after the introduction of the water barrels concept, JBFI will periodically review the benefits accruing to the first beneficiaries and that should the water barrels indeed prove vital and useful, the programme will be rolled out across the country “in due course”.

Other high-profile officials present during the event included the US-based JBFI Managing Director, Edith Akridge, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area (Zomba Malosa), Roy Akajuwe Kachale, Group Village Headman Mtogolo and Msigalira Free Secondary School for Orphans Head Teacher Friday Manda and teachers.

In his remarks, Akajuwe Kachale thanked JBFI founder and former President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda for engaging “friends abroad” to assist needy Malawians.

“We implore upon you JBFI officials present here to identify other areas that you can come in and assist the communities here. Our roads are bad; we do not have potable water; the bridges are dilapidated; and people are hungry. Please help us,” said the legislator.

In 1997, Dr. Banda received the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger. She used the Prize Money to establish the Joyce Banda Foundation (JBFI), which runs three schools in Malawi; 30 orphan centres; Youth Movement for Development; and Market Women’s Initiative.

JBFI focuses on providing Free Secondary School for Orphans, Early Childhood Development and Orphan Care, Youth Development, Food and Income Security, Safe Motherhood, Water and Sanitation, Women’s Leadership and Economic Development for Women.

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