BY: ANDREW DLAMINI
MBABANE – In a small village in the heart of the Shiselweni Region, a community’s life has been transformed thanks to the intervention of World Vision, a global humanitarian organization.
In 2021, World Vision initiated a project to address the pressing issue of clean water supply at a local primary school. The school, plagued by water scarcity for years, faced challenges in maintaining hygiene and providing adequate nutrition to its students.
According to World Vision, they stepped in by supporting the installation of a borehole water system at the school, equipped with two large tanks for water storage. With this reliable source of clean water, the school’s dire situation drastically improved, marking the beginning of positive change in the lives of the learners.
Prior to World Vision’s intervention, students like 13-year-old Simphiwe had to interrupt their lessons frequently to fetch water from a nearby stream. This water source was not only unreliable but also unclean, shared with animals, making it unsuitable for drinking and hygiene purposes. Simphiwe recalls the challenges they faced, “The water from the stream was not very clean as we also shared it with animals, including cattle and goats, so it was not very healthy for us to drink,” she said in an interview with World Vision.
World Vision not only provided clean water but also donated seedlings, enabling the school to start a vegetable garden. Utilizing the available water for irrigation, the school successfully grew a variety of vegetables, including spinach, onions, beetroot, and cabbage. The harvested produce is now used in the school’s kitchen, ensuring all learners receive nutritious meals every day.
Head Teacher Mr Dlamini expressed his gratitude for the support received from World Vision. He highlighted the significant challenges they faced due to the lack of a reliable water source, which impacted the school’s overall functioning. “We used to spend a lot of money, around SZL2,100 every two weeks, to fill up the school’s water tanks and avoid disturbing lessons when sending children to the stream,” explained Dlamini.
With the borehole water system now in place, the school can allocate these funds to other essential needs, including purchasing proteins like beans to supplement the meals provided through the government’s school feeding scheme. This transformation has resulted in a balanced and nutritious diet for the students, significantly enhancing their concentration and engagement during lessons.
Simphiwe’s face lights up with a smile as she shares the positive
