Water Wells in Zanzibar

Water is the basic source of life. Most households in rural Zanzibar (two island of Unguja and Pemba) do not have access piped water. Young girls and women are responsible for water supply to their families. Often, they have to walk over a mile each way to water sources. Using ropes attached to plastic containers (old jerry canes) they fetch well water. The women and girls make as many as six trips in a day carrying water buckets on their heads.  A study by DHS (2002) shows the link between school attendance and water source proximity. For example young girls who live 15 min from water well have 62% school attendance compared to 38% who live further. Time and energy allocated to fetch water for these girls are a major factor in gender disparities in education attainment that has further implications in in overall individual, community, and national development.

Our project has achieved its goal to ease this problem by digging two wells in Kiwengwa village, with population of over 5, 0000 household. One of the wells has been built close to the school (primary) and the other is located in the center of the village. We hope in the future to be able to have a well within 10-15 min walk radius of each household. We also aim to have manual or solar powered well pumps installed to lessen the time and energy burden of fetching water.  Future projects of water well will target Chukwani district and Pemba Island.