Muli bwanji?
9 March 2009. Sound and Vision: Fund raising event
It’s a PARTY not a club night
When: Thursday 9 April 2009 8pm – 3am
Where: The Rythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, East London E1 1EW
What: Cabaret, Bands, Street Artists, Break Dancers, Magicians,DJs, Raffle Prizes….
Stars: One eskimO, The Branco Heist,The RGBs, Blonde Ambition…..
How: Tickets £12.50 (£7 NUS on night) eMail: SoundVisionProject@Gmail.com request how many tickets you require. Payment: PayPal, cheque, cash.
Tickets will be available at door on the night but will sell fast!
facebook: those listed “accepted” on the facebook invite will have priorityaccess to purchase tickets. As such please forward to any friends keen to attend…
March 2009. Everything is working well at Chembe. The Second Unit has now been providing a reliable service for 8 months. We have just ordered a new batch of particle filter cartridges which should be on their way. Apart from these no other spares have been needed for either the Pilot Project or the Second Unit and we are pleased that 6000 people are now being supplied with safe clear water.
Plans are still underway for a new unit at Msaka, a village along the lakeshore from Chembe. Ongoing issues related to sustainability of this new project are still being considered but it is expected that work will begin later in 2009.
Fundraising events planned for 2009 are a gig in London planned by Neil Arora ( details very soon) and a sponsored kayak event in Suffolk in June (again, details to follow)
August 2008. Welcome to Neil Arora, our new committee member and promotions advisor. Neil has just been to Malawi to review the latest provision of safe water to the village (completed April 2008 – see below) for a further 4000 people. He has spent 3 weeks at Chembe and will be reporting shortly to the trustees – from here we can then plan our next program of work…. possibly the supply to the local primary school of 1200 children or futher provision which is still needed in this large village and elsewhere.
Great news April 2008!
The second unit at Chembe village is now delivering safe water to a further, estimated 4000 people. The new pumphouse and treatment unit has been officially opened by the District Commissioner and Chief of Chembe and the 20 new stand-pipes are being used and managed by the Ladies Committee and local supervisor. This is an active, local cooperative supported by the Chembe Water Project but owned by the people of the village. Thanks to all who have supported our work by raising funds, drawing up plans, organising materials, building the unit and seeing it through to the point of delivery. The Second Unit has been completed at an approximate cost to the charity of only £2 per head for those now using the clean, safe water.
Last year, Laura organised the materials for the Second Unit at Chembe and all the liaison work with the local community as well as the difficult consultations and agreement for the lease of the land. Also Libbie carried out the survey and drew up the plans. 2 towers were built and the trenches dug to lay the piping before the tanks were raised on top of the towers. All of the materials, plumbing and electrical, as well as the UV filter were purchased and assembled at Chembe, ready to be installed.
The work on the Second Unit was planned after a study of an experimental Pilot Project set up in 2004 at the western end of the village. The extent of the provision by the Pilot was assessed by 3 student volunteers from Glasgo University. 2 Geography graduates studied the use of the water provision and made recommendations for the requirement for the whole village and 1 teacher prepared an educational pack with the primary and secondary school children. This continued from the health education work done with the Water Committee initiated by Abigail, our volunteer Nurse
Of course thanks also to Paul for providing accommodation and support in Malawi and to the committee in UK for always being there to answer the endless questions.
Changing attitudes in the village and raising awareness has brought an appreciation for the water. Along with the plain and simple fact that less people are sick where the pilot project is working. The people at the other end of the village, where the Second Unit has been built were very much looking forward to their new, clean, and safe water.
The challenge goes on and there is still much to be tackled to bring safe water to others in this expanding, large village (recent estimates 12000). We are now working on plans to provide the local primary school with a supply (1100 children). They rely on two pumps which are now old and difficult to work……
Therfore we still need funds and rely complelely on your support. Please follow the link and note the option for tax Gift-Aid provision which increases you donation by almos a quarter!
Madzi ndi Moyo – Water is Life!
Chabwino
Brian Kite Coordinator UK
