PREVIOUS INITIATIVES
CHIBOLYA WATER PIPELINE
BEFORE: A HOSPITAL WITHOUT WATER
Once the Chiyembekezo Mission Clinic neared completion, a major challenge remained: access to clean, running water. The hospital needed a reliable water supply for sanitation, cleaning, and patient care - but in Chibolya, there was no infrastructure in place to make that possible. Installing a pipeline though the komboni-style township presented another obstacle: theft. In under-resourced areas like Chibolya, exposed piping materials often get stolen and resold, making standard installation nearly impossible.
HOW WE HELPED: COMMUNITY-LED INFRASTRUCTURE
Instead of forcing a top-down solution, we turned to the people. Working with the community, we created a new kind of agreement: if the pipeline passed in front of your home, you became its protector. In exchange, that household would receive a tap connected to the main line - giving them access to fresh, flowing water for the first time, right in their home. Residents could use the water for their families or even sell it at an affordable rate to neighbours, creating a small source of income.
THE IMPACT: WATER AS A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD
This initiative did more than deliver water to the hospital - it created a sense of ownership and pride. Not a single section of the pipeline has been stolen or vandalised since installation. Part of the community now has access to clean water, and the hospital is fully operational with the sanitation systems that it needs. The pipeline has improved public health, reduced time spent collecting water, and empowered local residents with both access and agency.