Families: 53
Water Committee: 4 men and 6 women

For as long as anyone in Chilumba can remember, there has never been clean water. Families survived on river water, and when it dried up, they walked to distant sources—still unsafe, still contaminated. Because the village sits at the base of a hill, all runoff flowed directly into their water supply.

Women and children often spent 8 hours a day fetching water. Many woke up at midnight and waited until 4 a.m. just to get one bucket. On a good day, getting two buckets was “a miracle.”

They didn’t boil the water because there simply wasn’t enough to spare. Illness was constant—so normal that people assumed it was just part of life. Skin rashes, stomach sickness, and diarrhea affected nearly every household. The nearest clinic was 15–20 km away, so most treated themselves with over-the-counter medicine and only traveled to the clinic if the illness became severe.

Everything changed when the new water well was installed.

Now:

• There is zero diarrhea.
• Families bathe three times a day without fear of skin infections.
• Women are planting gardens and molding bricks for new homes.
• Children—especially girls—are finally going to school.
  “100% of our girls go to school now.”
  

The freedom clean water has brought is profound.

“Now, we can sleep.”
 Before, nights were spent walking for water. Now, mornings are peaceful, and families wake up rested.

Men no longer follow women to water sources out of suspicion. Girls are no longer missing school. Time, dignity, and safety have been restored.

When asked if their children could attend school if the government built a beautiful one, the village answered honestly:

“It would be difficult. Water is everything.”
 “Madzi ndi zonse—water is everything.”

In Chilumba, clean water hasn’t just improved life—it has finally made life possible.