The grade nine pupils at Mayoba Basic School in Zambia proudly gathered around the newly installed hand pump, their faces beaming with the joy of clean water at their school.
Mayoba Village is home to over 1,500 people in 200 households. For 40 years, the village operated a primary school, and two years ago, they began building a secondary school. But the new school site lacked water, forcing students and teachers to bring their own.
Headman Eric Situmbeko approached HHI Trainer Thomas Simubali for help, explaining the community’s struggle. “Our dream is to build a good school for our children, but without clean water, we faced many challenges. This well has solved all our problems,” he said.
Head teacher Muumbe Muchimba shared the relief the new pump brought. Previously, the school relied on hand-dug wells, which often ran dry in the dry season. This led to frequent school closures and caused students to miss classes to help fetch water.. “This well has transformed our school,” said Muumbe. “Attendance has improved because children no longer miss class to collect water. This will help them succeed and create better futures for themselves.”
For 15-year-old Liza, the new water source has changed her school life. “I used to miss class to help my mother fetch water,” she explained. “Now, the well is so close, I can go to school on time every day.”
Thanks to HHI’s Clean Water program, Mayoba Village now has access to life-changing, clean water—helping both students and families thrive.