Clean Water Brings New Hope to Lusimbo Community in Mzokoto

Access to safe and clean water is a basic necessity that supports good health, education, sanitation, and overall community well-being. However, for many years, learners at Lusimbo Primary School and the surrounding community in Mzokoto in Rumphi District struggled to access clean water.

The school relied on a single borehole located more than 400 metres away, forcing learners to walk long distances during school hours to fetch water. This affected learning, reduced concentration in class, and limited access to water for drinking, handwashing, and personal hygiene. The lack of reliable water within the school premises posed serious Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) challenges thereby increasing the risk of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases.

Girls were among the most affected, as inadequate water access made menstrual hygiene management difficult, resulting in absenteeism and reduced participation in learning activities.

Mary Mzumala, a learner at Lusimbo Primary School, enjoys clean and safe drinking water from the tap connected to the newly installed solar-powered water system.

Among the beneficiaries is Mary Mzumala, whose daily school experience has significantly improved following the installation of the water system.

“We used to carry water in bottles from home every day. When the water finished, we had to walk a long distance to the borehole to fetch more. The walk would make us tired and affect our concentration in class. But now we have clean water right here at school. We no longer spend time walking long distances, and we are very happy and grateful for this support. We thank LICO for helping improve our education.”

Recognizing the challenges faced by learners and the wider community, Life Concern (LICO) installed a solar-powered water system at Lusimbo Primary School. The system pumps water using solar energy into a 10,000-litre storage tank and provides three dedicated water points for learners, teachers, and community members. Today, the intervention benefits 331 learners (140 girls and 191 boys) and more than 4,000 community members from 996 households. The availability of clean water is expected to improve attendance and learning outcomes while helping girls manage menstrual hygiene with dignity and confidence.

Learners celebrate as clean running water flows from the tap of the newly installed solar-powered water system, marking a significant milestone for their school and community.

The intervention has also relieved teachers, who previously had to interrupt lessons to allow learners to fetch water from the distant borehole. Teachers and learners now have reliable access to safe drinking water, creating a healthier and more conducive learning environment. According to Benson Nyirenda, Headteacher of Lusimbo Primary School:

“Water is life. Our learners used to walk more than 400 metres to fetch water during school hours. Sometimes lessons had to be paused to allow learners to get water. Another challenge was poor sanitation, as some learners could use the toilets without washing their hands due to lack of water. Today, we are very happy because learners can access safe and clean water within the school campus. We believe this will improve attendance, promote hygiene, and ultimately enhance learners’ academic performance.”

Beyond the school, the initiative has brought relief and renewed hope to the wider community. Families who previously struggled to access safe water now have a reliable source closer to their homes. Speaking on behalf of local leaders, Twidy Chirambo, Chairperson of the Initiative Committee, described the project as transformative.

“On behalf of the 15 village chiefs in this area, we are extremely grateful to LICO for bringing this water intervention to our community. For many years, we struggled without reliable access to safe water, putting our children at risk of diseases. Today, we are proud that clean and safe water has finally reached us. The most exciting part is that the system benefits both learners and the wider community. We sincerely thank LICO for transforming our lives.”

Community members access clean water at a tap point connected to the newly installed solar-powered water system.

The Lusimbo Solar-Powered Water System demonstrates how targeted investments in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure can improve education, health, and community development. By providing reliable access to safe and clean water, the initiative is creating a healthier learning environment, improving sanitation and hygiene practices, reducing barriers to education for girls, and enhancing the quality of life for more than 4,000 community members. The intervention forms part of broader WASH interventions being implemented by Life Concern (LICO) in schools and communities across Rumphi District with financial support from the Epsilon Foundation, promoting improved health, quality education, and sustainable community development.