The training is complete and the work in beginning! In December we held a training course at the demonstration garden run by the Anglican Dioceses of Northern Malawi/ The course covered was coordinated by Tal Woolsey from the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology in Calgary (CAWST).

It was taught by trainers from the Africa Manzi Center, specifically the Zambia Water Expertise and Training Center in Ndola, Zambia. The length of the course was two weeks and covered such topics as harmful bacteria, proper food handling, hand washing, placement of latrines and improved health techniques. The intent of the training was to teach people how to give presentations on proper sanitation and hygiene.
The second part of the course covered the construction, installation and maintenance of the biosand water filter. Twenty four people in total were trained, approximately 16 were trained as Community Health Promoters responsible for going back to their villages and giving presentations on the material they learned. The Biosand Implementers were trained  to construct and install the filters.

Three project sites have now been set up. They are located in the north, central and south of the country. Each team has at least two Biosand Implementers and two Community Health Promoters.

Check out our “What’s New “page for more information and pictures.

On Saturday October 22 The Malawi Water Project organized a fundraising dinner and silent auction at the Thorncliffe Community Hall in Calgary, Alberta called “Creating Opportunities Africa”. The fundraiser was a huge success!

We had an amazing turnout with a lot of wonderful people at the event. We would like to sincerely thank all of our guests who attended “Creating Opportunities Africa” and supported the Malawi Water Project with your very generous donations, silent auction purchases and the raffle.

We would also especially like to thank all of our volunteers, our special guest MC Rick Castiglione, all of our live performers and all the various local companies and individuals who donated their products and services to our silent auction. Your contribution to this event has brought us even closer to our goal. Stay tuned to see photos from this action-packed event!

IMPORTANT
We received comments that some people weren’t aware that we had a Needs Board at the back of the room with a break down of our requirements on the wall. We apologize for not being clear.

In case you missed the Needs Board and wanted to donate to a specific item now, we have attached the list of items we require to operate the training program and set up three construction sites in the country.

Items Needed
Biosand fiter – $100
Training for Biosand Technician – $550
Training for Community Health Promoter – $750
Steel mold to make filters – $750
Tools to make filters – $500
Shelter – $800
Supplies for a filter – $40
Bicycles for Community Health Promoters – $130

Click here to donate for the above items.

Welcome to Our Website!

We have created this website to give you some information on The Malawi Water Project and keep you updated on the activities that are occurring. We had originally started The Malawi Project in order to send a container of much needed humanitarian supplies to Malawi, Africa.

Due to the life threatening diseases caused by contaminated drinking water, we have now focused our attention on bringing safe, clean water to villages. We are doing this by teaching villagers proper sanitation and hygiene as well as how to construct, maintain and monitor bio sand water filters that they can use to filter up to 98% of pathogens from their drinking water.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is a small narrow country wedged between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. The vast majority of the population live in the rural areas, earning their living from the land. The average wage is $1 US per day. Significant problems facing the Malawian people include:

• lack of clean, uncontaminated water
• poor nutrition
• lack of access to medical treatment
• insufficient education
• HIV/AIDS
• extreme weather conditions either through floods or drought
• high child mortality

Malawi has more than a million orphans, 700,000 of whom became orphans when their parents died of AIDS. Life expectancy is estimated to be 37 years.

The Malawi Water Project has a mandate to provide opportunities for villagers  to have clean, safe drinking water. We are providing these opportunities through training and education in proper sanitation and hygiene as well as in the construction of the bio sand water filter.  The filter has been developed in Calgary and can be made from supplies found locally within the country of Malawi. When constructed and used properly it will remove 98% of disease causing pathogens from the water. For more information on the bio sand water filter please go to www.CAWST.org .

The Malawi Water Project operates through Deer Park United Church in Calgary AB. a registered Canadian Charity BN107010886RR0001.

For more information on The Malawi Water Project  please contact Helen Timoffee by email at: hgtimoffee@gmail.com .