News | CCAP SMART Centre Malawi | |

Mzuzu Drill is catching up

The CCAP SMART Centre has recently held a training on the use of ‘Mzuzu Drill’.

Mzuzu Drill is a low-cost method of drilling a borehole which has recently been developed through the SMART Centres. With the method you are able to drill a shallow well of up to 12 meters within 2 days and it can also be used to deepen existing (hand dug) wells which have dried

During the training the 12 participants constructed two wells to evaluate two different bailers used to drill the well. So far, six other wells have been succesfully drilled for private clients and we managed to also deepen one well

Two staff members from the Jacana SMART Centre in Chipata, Zambia also participated in the training and it has helped to exchange experiences and tips & tricks.

Successfull Open Day at the SMART Centre

The CCAP SMART Centre team recently organised an Open Day for CCAP colleagues. Staff from different departments of the CCAP, Synod of Livingstonia, passed by to appreciate and learn more on the technologies the SMART Centre is promoting.

In the weeks before the Open Day the team worked hard to further build-up the demonstration ground through the installation of a number of pumps, the building of toilets and other SMARTechs.

An Open Day for the general public will follow soon.

Rope pump training at the SMART Centre

The CCAP SMART Centre is currently hosting a Rope pump producers training. Two established welders (Mr. Brighton Kaniki and Mr. Allex Chakwanira) are training four new companies in the fabrication of Rope pumps. The companies have existing shops in Rumphi, Nkhamenya and Mzokoto and adding these to the SMART Centre will help to increase the visibility of the Rope pump.

During the training each producer works on a set of jigs to fabricate each part of the Rope pump. The jigs will help to standardize the Rope pumps as having uniform Rope pumps allows for easy maintenance and the changing of parts, as parts from different shops will fit.

Opening of water system at Blindschool, Ekwendeni

At the school for Visually Impaired in Ekwendeni (about 20km North of Mzuzu) the SMART Centre has recently installed a water system and constructed a wash basin. The project has been carried out in cooperation with the GZB and Cypressa.

The school now has a borehole and storage tank which will help to reduce the cost of running the school. The SMART Centre will also install solar panels to be able to pump water during blackouts.

To increase the hygiene situation at the school a washbasin has been constructed by Mr. Gondwe and Helbert Makonda, two of the entrepeneurs trained by the SMART Centre. The washbasin by the children to wash their clothes and to wash their dishes after the school lunch.

The SMART Centre involved in Cholera response through water filter distribution

The rainy season in Malawi has lead to an increase in the cases of cholera in the past years. Recently there have been ongoing outbreaks of cholera Karonga, one of the Northern districts of Malawi which have taken lives.

As a response to the outbreaks the SMART Centre has distributed 100 Tulip Siphon filters to households in affected areas reaching an estimated 600 people. Before the distribution local staff of the CCAP Development Department together with government health officials were trained on the use and maintenance of filters.

After six months the SMART Centre will conduct follow-up visits to assess the usage and to draw lessons for future distributions.

Income effect of the Rope pump

Recently Robin Rosendahl, a student from Wageningen University conducted a research at the SMART Centre on the income effects of Rope pumps. As part of his research Robin visited 22 Rope pumps in and around Mzuzu.

Through the research it was found that, on average, the families increase their annual income with $180,- through the purchase and use of a Rope pump. This outcome further strengthens the case for the Rope pump and Self-supply.

If interested, the report can be downloaded through the following link: BSc Thesis – Rosendahl (2014) How do Rope Pumps Impact Household Income in Mzuzu

Supporting Water for People

The SMART Centre is involved in a Self-supply project Water for People is managing in Rumphi area.

In August 2015 the SMART Centre trained a group of 10 new drillers in the manual drilling and the SMART Centre will follow-up their progress throughout the project as well as assisting Water for People in the procurement and distribution of quality supplies for their project.

The first results show a motivated group of drillers that have great potential of growing into independant, profit making businesses providing the communities of Malawi with clean and safe water.