Wells for Zoë - Water for life
In April 2005 two former Irish teachers visited Malawi as part of an educational visit for Irish students and teachers with an Irish development organization, Self Help Development International (SHDI). The purpose of the visit was to observe projects, learn about them, and share their experiences upon returning home. For John and Mary Coyne, it was a wake-up call that has led to the formation of a small organization called Wells for Zoë.
On his return John immediately set about researching simple sustainable systems to deliver clean water to women and children, who often had to walk up to 16 km each day to find, often dirty, water never sure of finding it. In a world of iPods, Internet, and indigestion it seemed so unfair that 7 million Malawians didn't have clean water, if any, within a reasonable walking distance. Also, unusually in a country with a high annual rainfall, many farmers have neither the money, training, or technology to collect and store water during the rainy season.
John concluded that the solution lay in a simple sustainable water pump combined with a well drilling method, which would be appropriate to the skills level of the user community. The package had to be:
- Low Tech and sustainable
- Affordable
- Suitable for women and children
- Capable of being locally manufactured and maintained
- Robust and Reliable
John's first break-through was when he went to Cranfield University to meet Prof Richard Carter, Head of International Water Development in Silsoe and a 35 year veteran of water development in Africa. Carter agreed to put any suitable student facilities of the University at Coyne's disposal and also introduced him to Richard Cansdale, inventor, designer, pump manufacturer. In his ‘day job' Cansdale is a world expert on a well drilling technique called jetting. In 2004 a pump he designed, the Canzee pump, won the World Bank prize for its contribution to humanity and is being used with amazing success in Madagascar (following a cyclone last year). In recent years, Richard has sent his hand pumps to Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Angola and Madagascar.
By the time John got to visit him in Hartburn, Northumberland, he had invented a new pump, a construction of sheer genius. It has few moving parts, can be produced locally, with readily available materials, by local people.
With some ideas in mind the Coynes visited Malawi again in late November 2005, visiting a St John of God (SJOG) project in Mzuzu in the North, and four new projects of SHDI in the central region. They met Br Aidan of SJOG and his all-Malawian team. His mental health project was a striking example of what one man's dream and dedicated, focused hard work can achieve. His facilities and operation are leaders in world terms and his outreach program is an example to all Africa.
Wells for Zoë hope to begin the pilot project with SJOG in Mzuzu in March 2006 where they will assist the SJOG community to install ca. 50 pumps and begin the development of storage for run-off water, or water harvesting as the experts like to call it. Prof Richard Carter of Cranfield University has offered to send a group of students to help at the beginning of the 2006/2007 academic year and to study the development of the program as a student thesis later.
This pilot project will involve existing clients of the SJOG outreach program: local farmers, their families, and others who have requested to join having seen its success. All the work will be in sensitive co-operation with these local farmers. It is expected that this Insumu project will benefit 1000 families in 2005.
