Every day, women and girls in Malawi walk for hours to collect drinking water, risking their health, safety and education. According to UNICEF, in 2021, the dropout rate for girls in secondary education rose from 6.4% to 9.5%, partly due to water-collecting duties. By improving access to water in rural areas, AE is helping more girls access education and improving health and equality for all.
Having begun in 2024 with strong community support, AE Malawi has helped improve access to clean water in the village of Kafumbula, helping more girls complete their education. AE Malawi work in collaboration with village health volunteers and community leaders, which aligns with AE’s global vision of strengthening community resilience and promoting sustainable development. By providing clean and reliable water sources, the project will significantly alleviate the burden on women and girls, who are traditionally responsible for water collection. This will allow the girls to spend more time attending school and completing their education.
The project has been embraced by the village communities with strong support, and we hope to take that spirit into 2025 with us. With God’s help, AE are addressing a critical and longstanding need by providing boreholes in various villages in and around Lilongwe. In response to the 2024 project, the community members and leaders have pledged to take responsibility for maintaining the water facility, ensuring its proper use and maintaining cleanliness around the site.
Your investment can:
- Fund the installation of water boreholes in two high-need communities, Malikha and Dzoole, situated on the outskirts of Lilongwe
- Help reduce school dropouts among girls
- Improve community health, food security and livelihoods for over 1200 people
Her story:
In the village of Kafumbula, women and girls no longer walk for hours to collect water. After AE Malawi installed a borehole, clean water flowed for the first time, bringing cheers of relief. Now, 116 girls can attend school, and 78 women in the village have more time for work and family. The community is committed to maintaining the borehole, ensuring lasting benefits for generations.
