Kurt Dahlin, CEO of Water Wells for Africa (WWFA), a
California-based non-profit organization dedicated to drilling and maintaining
safe water sources in the rural communities of Malawi,
Central Africa, has launched a relief
initiative to provide water for more than 5,000 Malawian villagers who have
been devastated by continual drought and disease from stagnant surface water.
WWFA’s efforts over the past 15 years have built and sustained
more than 120 water wells in Malawi.
Even so, the existing initiative – termed “impossible” by local water well
agencies – has proved to be the greatest challenge of WWFA to date. Malawian
drilling experts have not yet found a way to transport the heavy equipment into
these five remote villages due to the high, mountainous terrain and small,
battered roads.
“After personally visiting this area 3 years ago, I have
been dedicated to bringing safe water,” says Dahlin. He also explains that the
issue has become a source of conflict between the Malawian and Mozambican
villagers who argue over rights to the contaminated water that they sift from a
dry creek bed. Many families suffer recurring cholera and diarrhea caused by
the depleted, open water source.
WWFA currently is seeking groups interested in partnering to
raise funds and invest in the initiative. Further, the organization has set up
an adoption program that will allow investors to fund the drilling and
maintenance of the five new wells that are needed.
For
additional information, visit www.waterwellsforafrica.org.