Mnyakanya Water Project Completed and Making a Difference
This week saw the completion of Phase 2 of the Water Project at Mnyakanya School.
All the pipe, guttering and related plumbing work is now fully operational and connected with the mains water supply and the storage tank facility which we installed last month. Working with the local community, we have delivered the project on budget and ahead of schedule despite considerable challenges.
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of this project and its impact at Mnyakanya School and indeed with the wider community; as our Bambisanani Coordinator at Mnyakanya, Mrs Pk Zondi has already said: “…it has saved lives and is improving the quality of life and the life chances for our learners”.
This week has seen some additional problems in the Mnyakanya area where the benefits and impact of the Water Project have been highlighted.
Pk explains:
“Today’s weather ranges between 34 to 36 degrees. No water supply again in the whole community and in schools. And we don’t know where the problem is, and how long it will last. Without the water tanks our school would not have operated today. No meals would have been provided to the learners. With water tanks everything is normal, no learners are fainting or crying with headaches as it used to be, previously. Community members are coming in and out to ask for water.
I wish to pass a massive ‘thank you’ on behalf of all the Mnyakanya community for the huge Water Project that has been delivered to our school. I strongly believe that we will never have a time again, when there will be no water at all in the school. As I’m speaking, water is found in almost every corner of the school because of the water tanks that the partnership has facilitated. Social distancing for Covid-19 is well maintained since learners do not have to line up at one single tap now to get water. May God bless all the Bambisanani team for ‘walking in our shoes' even though we are so far from each other.”
The delivery of the Water Project has been a great team effort with funds raised by our wonderful supporters in both the UK and South Africa. A key element of the project has been the involvement and engagement of local community members, including students from the school, who volunteered their time and labour working to prepare the site. This significant contribution massively reduced overall costs and enabled a more comprehensive project to be delivered. Special thanks must go to all the volunteers who worked on the project – NGIYABONGA KAKHULU! This week it was most humbling indeed to catch up with some of the volunteer team:
“I am Thabani Khanyile, a grade 10 learner at Mnyakanya. It was a great opportunity for me to do volunteer work on the Water Project in my school. This was important for me because our school has long faced a challenge of water supply. Before we were at school for the whole day without water to drink and to wash our hands. The water tanks will enable us to stay at school safely and healthy.”
“My name is Magwaza Bonginkosi. Firstly, I wish to thank our Bambisanani friends for being so kind to us. The offering of water tanks in our school will make our life at school to be enjoyable. We will feel taken care of and treated like humans. I decided to assist with volunteer work in this project because we have suffered for a long time without water. If we had no water supply in the taps we had no alternative water source. When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, we had to stay at home. I love the Bambisanani Partnership.”
“I am Diffat Mulozorana staying close to the school. I am a Zimbabwean by birth. I was so shocked when my friend told me that the neighbouring school has no water tanks as an alternative source of water. I volunteered for this water project at Mnyakanya because of this fear of Coronavirus that may affect people if they don't wash their hands. This virus would not only affect people in the school, but could spread from the school to the whole community and destroy us all. Water tanks also help community people if there is no water supply from the taps. Thanks to the Bambisanani Partnership to make us live safely.”
Sipho Shangase, a community member added: “Thanks to the Bambisanani Partnership for supporting our community with water. The school is taking care of our children and we need them to be safe at school. I decided to take part in this project to contribute in saving lives. The school cannot run without water. If there is no water, the school must close. Water tanks are very important as another way to provide water if there is no water from the taps. Thanks to Bambisanani Partnership for thinking of our community.”
David Geldart from the partnership said, “The very essence of the Bambisanani Partnership is about collaboration: working together and learning together. The delivery of this project encapsulates this commitment and philosophy. There is enormous power and potential in effective partnerships – even if some members of the team live 8,500 miles apart! Long may we continue to live, work and learn in partnership.”
Also see the links below for other related stories about the Mnyakanya School Water Project:
Mnyakanya School Water Project moves quickly to make a difference (28/09/2020)
Otley Lions support Bambisanani Partnership in ambitious African Water Project (24/08/2020)
Bambisanani Partnership helps South African children return to school with water supply connection (23/07/2020)
VIDEO: Bambisanani Challenge 2020 Animation (17/07/2020)
Yorkshire to South Africa run, walk or cycle challenge will help save lives (07/07/2020)
The Bambisanani Partnership 2020 Challenge (11/06/2020)
