A Historic New Year for Msese Village – First Clean Water Ever
Msese Village Well Project - Impact Dashboard
We are overjoyed to announce that the Msese Village Well Project has been successfully completed! For the first time in their history, this community in Malawi now has access to clean, safe drinking water, thanks to the incredible generosity of 9 donors who came together to make this vision a reality.
We extend deep gratitude to donor Jörg P. from Germany, whose faithful support of Water of Mercy continues to inspire us. With an astounding 24 donations to date, Jörg P. has been with us nearly every step of our journey. His sustained commitment has directly contributed to bringing clean water to nine villages: Zebediya, Bundi, Zakariya, Mchilawengo, Kajombo, Msese, Luwerezi, Khorwa, and Msambanyifwa. Thousands of people now have access to safe drinking water in part because one person chose to give, and then chose to give again, and again. Jörg P. exemplifies the kind of faithful, ongoing generosity that transforms not just one village, but an entire region.
We are also deeply grateful to donor Daniele R. in Italy, whose breathtaking generosity funded approximately 90% of the Msese well along with 80% of the Kajombo Village well. Through these extraordinary gifts, Daniele R. has single-handedly transformed multiple communities, bringing the blessing of clean water to well over a thousand people across these villages.
We extend our tremendous gratitude to both Jörg and Daniele for their ongoing support and wonderful generosity. Their commitment to this mission is truly inspiring.
From Cholera-Prone Crisis to Clean Water
Before this well was installed, water scarcity in Msese Village had escalated to a critical and life-threatening level. Residents, including students and staff from the nearby primary school, were forced to walk 1.5 kilometers to fetch water from a shallow, hand-dug well shared by both people and livestock. This open water source was little more than a muddy pit carved into sandy soil where families had to kneel to collect cloudy, contaminated water in whatever containers they could find.
The water was visibly dirty and unsafe, heavily contaminated with sand, debris, and animal waste. This area had become notorious for cholera outbreaks directly caused by this contaminated water supply, presenting severe and immediate health risks to the entire community. The combination of the dangerous 1.5-kilometer journey and the cholera-contaminated water source created an ongoing health crisis for families, with particularly devastating consequences for vulnerable children and elderly residents.
Overcoming Challenges
Drilling began on December 23, 2025, but the team encountered unexpected challenges when they discovered significant mud deposits underground (see video). After completing the initial drilling, the crew planned to return one week later to thoroughly clean the borehole and ensure optimal water quality.
However, on December 29, 2025, severe flooding struck Malawi when a torrential downpour lasting several days devastated the region. The flooding destroyed a key bridge on Main Road 1 that connects Msese to the capital Lilongwe, leaving the drilling team's vehicles stranded in Lilongwe and unable to reach the village to complete the project (see video). Intermittent flooding has continued to plague the region, and government bridge repairs may take several months.
Despite these obstacles, the drilling team persevered and completed the well. Today, 757 people, including children and staff at the nearby primary school, have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village. The elimination of dangerous 1.5-kilometer journeys to the cholera-contaminated water source means children now have more time for education and families can focus on other essential activities. School children now have access to clean water during the school day, supporting better health outcomes and improved educational attendance. The project has dramatically reduced the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases that plagued this community, fundamentally improving the overall health and well-being of all residents.
The village has established a maintenance committee to care for the well, and with proper management, this vital resource should serve the community for approximately 75 years.
A Blessing to Come
The pump is complete and the community has already begun drawing fresh, clean water from their new well. Father Petros has instructed the villagers to start using the borehole immediately while they await his arrival for the official blessing ceremony. Due to ongoing flooding and damaged bridges, travel to Msese Village remains unsafe. Father Petros will join the community for a formal pump blessing once bridge repairs are complete and the journey can be made safely. We will update this page with photos and video from the blessing ceremony when it takes place.
Please keep Father Petros in your prayers as he continues his dedicated work serving the people of Malawi. He and one other priest serve 43,000 parishioners across a vast and poor area of rural Malawi.
The Power of Community Support
The Msese Village Well Project demonstrates the incredible impact that can be achieved when donors unite around a common cause. Nine individuals, led by an extraordinarily generous donor in Italy and supported by faithful friends from Germany and beyond, saw a need and responded with compassion, forever changing the trajectory of this village's future. You have given the gift of health to 757 people and to generations yet to be born.
A gallery of images and videos from the Msese Village Well Project drilling is included below. Photos from the completed pump and blessing ceremony will be added once reliable and safe travel to the village are possible.