Families: 35
Water Committee: 4 men and 6 women

Mkachora has been home to most families here since the early 1980s, with many arriving from places like Thyolo and Nsanje in search of land and stability. For decades, water was the one thing their new home couldn’t offer. The nearest well sat two kilometers away, and most of the burden fell on men who traveled back and forth by bicycle—often returning with only two buckets for the entire household. Women went when they could, but the wait times and congestion at the old well created tension both at home and among each other.

Regina Kamwana, age 77, remembers how dependent she used to be.
 “Before, it was hard,” she said softly. “I relied on others to bring me water. Now I can take my bucket, even if it’s just half a bucket, and come on my own.”

Her independence has returned at a time when her small tailoring business is growing. “Work is easier now,” she told us. “I can focus.”

The men shared their own frustrations from the past—broken bicycle carriers, constant repairs, and the cost of fixing them just to keep water flowing back to their homes. Now, with time and energy freed up, they’re planning to build better houses, molding bricks together as a community.

Farming has strengthened as well. With access to water nearby, families are cultivating pumpkin leaves, mustard, and other vegetables more consistently. “We know we can have a healthy life as a family because of water,” one parent said.

The school in Mkachora has felt the change too. Children used to arrive late or miss class entirely after early-morning water trips. The small nursery school suffered most—of the 11 little ones enrolled, about half would return home because there wasn’t enough water to sustain the school day. Today, all 11 come and stay. Parents draw water the night before, and classrooms stay full.

For Mkachora, clean water hasn’t just shortened a walk—it has reshaped how families live, work, and hope for the future.