One of the remarkable stories coming from WaterAfrica’s annual Walk4Water is the ever increasing youth involvement. This year we DOUBLED the number of area schools represented by student participants and volunteers. We are so grateful for the vision, energy and generosity these young people bring to our event.
It is important to note the transformative impact of our youth as they participate in and share the WaterAfrica story. Even as our youth expand our reach and help to shape our message, we hear parallel stories from Zambia about their youth stepping into transformative community roles to bring life-changing, life-giving vision and energy.
WaterAfrica closely follows World Vision’s Water, Sanitation & Hygiene work particularly in southern Zambia, but we recently received this report from a new World Vision Area Development project in northern Zambia. The story is representative of World Vision’s ZWASH work and illustrates the life-giving impact of your WaterAfrica donations:
Mwamba ADP in northern Zambia, is a new World Vision ADP. The ADP community leaders have learned the importance of implementing all three components of the WASH program – clean water, sanitation and hygiene together.
ZWASH has provided leadership and resources for the construction of six Ventilation Improved Pit Latrines (VIP) and hand washing facilities at Misamfu Basic School. There are 1013 students at the school….To make sure the message of good hygiene becomes a part of the children’s daily life, World Vision ZWASH assisted the school to set up a WASH club, with an initial 20 members, who in turn teach their friends the importance of drinking clean, safe water from the school borehole, and also consistent hand washing before eating.
One of the students, Bernard Mugala, in ninth grade said, “I have learned a lot from the WASH club, and now I’m teaching my friends on the importance of washing their hands before they eat anything because that can help prevent diarrhea.” He continued, “I have also taught my parents back in the village to practice hand-washing. We have placed a container outside our latrine and we have everyone wash their hands from it and then fill it with fresh water when it gets empty.” Bernard explained that his parents were now also teaching their friends and neighbors in the village to wash their hands to avoid getting sick. The message continues to spread.
Another member of the club, Katongo Malama, is in the eighth grade. Katongo said she is happy to be a member of the club because now she has answers to questions people ask. “Before I could tell people to wash their hands as a good hygiene practice, but I didn’t really know why this was important. When someone asked me why, I didn’t know the answer and would end up feeling embarrassed. This is no longer the case.”
Luswepo Suza, an eleven year old member of the club said she particularly enjoys telling people to make sure they have a container of water for washing hands. She feels proud every time she walks through her village and sees how many homes now have a designated container for washing hands.
Mwamba ADP recognizes what powerful change agents they have in their schoolchildren and intend to introduce similar clubs elsewhere in the ADP.
Walk4Water5 leadership agrees! Transformative power comes to life when we educate and nurture the vision and energy of the young people in our midst. It is a privilege to work alongside our youth leaders to bring life-changing resources to Zambian youth leaders.
