Update on the Water Project pt 5

Pipeline reaching Crossroads Church

Although the project is taking longer to complete than anticipated, Phase 1 is now complete. A 1,5km pipeline has now been dug from the Crossroads site to Crossroads Church and piping has been installed. 2 water tanks have been placed - one at Crossroads Church and one at Crossroads site. A pump house has been built at the Crossroads site which will house one of the diesel engines. A 2,500 litre water tank has been placed next to the pump house.

To test if Phase 1 works, water was pumped into the 2,500 litre tank at the Crossroads site and then pumped to the 1,000 litre tank at Crossroads. It took approximately 1 hour for the water to reach Crossroads and fill the 1,000 litre tank. A second test was done as the villagers came to Crossroads Church with their 20 litre containers to collect water – running water from a tap. With water already being in the pipeline from the first test run, it then took approximately 15 minutes to fill up the 1,000 litre tank at Crossroads Church.

Containers lined up as villagers wait for water

The villagers lined their containers and each adult/child was able to access clean running water. We are now into the 3 driest and hottest months of the year (August – October). At present, the 1,000 litre water tank can cater for 50 villagers living in and around Crossroads Church if each villager has a 20 litre water container. We are hoping to have two 10,000 litre water tanks (20,000 litres) placed at Crossroads Church and another two 10,000 litre water tanks (20,000 litres) placed at the Crossroads site. Approximately 2000 villagers will benefit from these two water access points as they will now have a constant source of clean running water for domestic purposes.

First container being filled

Phase 2 has started.........

Happy days for the villagers with easy access to running water 


Written by Molly Manhanga

Repairs on the roof.....

Before and...

As part of the renovations that were done at Crossroads, the outside kitchen roof was taken down and re-thatched. It looks pretty good now

By Molly Manhanga

After

......

A perspective from the elderly.......

Sam Ndlovu - 91 years old

Some of the teachings that the older men received when they were young are:
1. A man needs to have a home before he can marry
2. The aspect of respect is crucial
3. Asking for advice was also imperative

Misheck Ndzunga - 78 years old

What is their view on the younger generation in the community? Although they felt that the behaviour of men is changing, the young people
1. Change partners too readily
2. They are not receiving advice from the older people
3. Young people are driven by the need for money. To elaborate - the older folk felt they were taught to work in team (cook, eat and drink) together for the betterment of the community and for relational purposes. They young people have the view point of "nothing for nothing" i.e. how much will you pay me?

This too is an interesting view point. Can the young and the old glean the good points from each other. Time will tell.........

Harvison Ncube - 68 years old



By Molly Manhanga