ZAMBIA RED CROSS SOCIETY HELPS END WATER WOES AT PALABANA’S CHILDREN VILLAGE AND NCHUTE PRIMARY SCHOOL.

After enduring years of crippling water shortages, Palabana Children’s Village and Nchute Primary School are celebrating a new era as Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) successfully drills boreholes, bringing life-saving water to both institutions.

The two schools, Palabana Children’s Village and Nchute Primary School, located in Chongwe District of Lusaka Province, long struggled with access to reliable water sources. For years, pupils walked long distances to fetch water, carried personal water bottles for drinking, and managed without running water in toilets and bathrooms posing a serious health hazard to both pupils and teachers. Teachers were also affected, relying on rolling drums to fetch water from distant sources for both personal and household use.

The situation became so dire that Zambia Red Cross Society, through the Ministry of Education and other line ministries, recognized the gravity of the issue and intervened with a plan to drill boreholes at both schools, aiming to promote good hygiene practices in these public institutions as part of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, which is a component of the Cholera Response Project.

ZRCS’s decision to drill boreholes faced challenges. Initial attempts were met with disappointment when dry boreholes were found on surveyed sites. However, the strong support and commitment of the local communities proved invaluable. They quickly came together to identify alternative sites for further surveying. Their determination paid off. After identifying new locations, they successfully found water, bringing hope and relief to the two schools.

At Palabana Children’s Village School, the head teacher, Josephine Moonga, expressed her immense relief. “Since 2019, we have had a serious challenge with water shortage. We’ve been running the school without a consistent source of water. Learners had to push drums over long distances just to access water, and because our toilets are water-borne, the situation was even worse. Now, even the places we used to find water have dried up, making life harder for both pupils and teachers. This water crisis has seriously disrupted our learning environment.”

She went on to emphasize that ZRCS’s intervention had been a game-changer, explaining that now that ZRCS had drilled a borehole, teachers could concentrate on teaching, and learners had water for drinking and use in the toilets. She added that the burden of fetching water had been lifted.

Community members have also expressed their gratitude for the positive changes these boreholes will bring. One such resident, Mr. Luka Mateyo, voiced his appreciation: “The borehole will not only benefit the pupils but also the surrounding community. We are thankful to ZRCS for making this possible.”

The situation at Nchute Primary School was equally challenging, with the head teacher echoing the same sentiments: “The current water source at the school is not enough to sustain us. The recharge rate of the existing borehole is so low that we often go days without water. Pupils have to bring their own water from home, which makes it difficult to keep our toilets clean. This poses a serious health risk, particularly in terms of waterborne diseases like cholera.”

Drilling new boreholes will provide much-needed relief, but ZRCS’s work doesn’t stop there. The organization plans to mechanize these boreholes with solar-powered systems and overhead tanks to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of water. This approach will not only meet the schools’ water needs but also allow them to access safe and clean water more efficiently.

These efforts are a key component of ZRCS’s broader strategic goals, particularly our aim of ensuring that people lead safe, healthy, and dignified lives with opportunities to thrive. The WASH program, which promotes hygiene and prevents waterborne diseases such as cholera, is a vital part of ZRCS’s commitment to improving public health and supporting vulnerable communities across Zambia.

Supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Netherlands Red Cross, and other partners, ZRCS continues its efforts in addressing water-related challenges in schools and communities. This initiative is more than just a project to provide water—it’s a lifeline that empowers students, teachers, and entire communities to live healthier, more dignified lives. As ZRCS continues its work in these schools, the positive impact of their efforts will resonate for years to come. Access to safe and clean water is not only essential for good health but is also critical to the success of schools as safe learning environments. Drilling of boreholes in the Communities resonates with the auxiliary role of Zambia Red Cross Society.