Walking for Water

Many people in rural Tanzania are very familiar with 'Walking for Water', a daily chore that can take an hour or more each way, sometimes twice a day. And often it's then poor quality water, needing to be boiled to avoid the risk of getting diarrhoea or worse.

FUM's aim is to provide a reliable supply of good quality water at each and every one of the clinics and hospitals and also FDCs that we support.

Many of our sites already have deep boreholes and these have proved very reliable. The long term target is to have a borehole at every site but the cost for each is around £12,000.

Other FUM sites such as at Ibambo, Mbooga and Nyasa have a rainwater harvesting scheme. A small number only have shallow wells.

After three failed attempts the successful Kiloleni borehole had to be 2.8km from the clinic. A solar powered pumping system will be needed to transfer the water to the clinic at a cost of £14,000. Two fundraising walks hope to raise this sum.

1. Sunday 10th July, Cornwall / Devon walk
The walk organiser is Julie Overnell. "From Plymouth the 70A bus will take us to the start at Tregantle Fort (Whitsand Bay, Cornwall) via Torpoint ferry.
The coastal path back is via the Cremyl passenger ferry, finishing at Plymouth Hoe".

2. Saturday 10th September, South Downs walk
The walk organiser is Isabel Heycock. "It will be a 15 mile circular walk starting near Cuckmere Haven and taking in Alfriston and Firle Beacon".

This was to raise money for providing the clinic and new maternity unit at Kiloleni
with a reliable source of clean water.

Well over £8000 was raised, a great success. With help from other FUM funds a borehole has been successfully drilled to provide a reliable supply of much needed good quality water.