Collection: All Village Water Projects

Water in Mkandawire Village is carried in by hand from two kilometers away. The 420 residents have no access to safe drinking water. Their only source is a shallow hollow in low-lying ground where dark brown water stands among trampled earth and clumps of grass. Residents must crouch at the edge of the water to scoop it into buckets and basins, waiting their turn as containers line the bare dirt around them. Women and children make this journey daily, carrying the heavy, full containers on their heads along a rutted path back to the village. The water is shared with livestock, and this area is at high risk for cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community.

The 590 residents of Chirwa Village have no access to safe drinking water. The only water source is a shallow, muddy hole where brown, standing water collects, and residents must crouch at its edge to scoop the murky, contaminated water into buckets and basins. Reaching it means a long, steep walk down a rugged, eroded footpath, and families must then carry the heavy containers back up the hill to their scattered homes. This exhausting daily journey falls most heavily on the women and children, who spend hours each day fetching water. The water is shared with livestock, and this area is prone to cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community.

The Theu Village Well Project was successfully funded on July 23rd 2026! We will provide more information as soon as well drilling is completed. The 560 residents of Theu Village have no access to safe drinking water. Their only source is a seasonal river more than 2 kilometers from the village, and for much of the year it dwindles to a few shallow, muddy pools scattered across a wide sandy riverbed. To reach it, residents must descend a steep, heavily eroded slope into the river basin. There they crouch beside the small pools and scoop dirty, brown water into buckets, basins, and whatever containers they have. The water is shared with livestock and visibly contaminated with mud and sediment. Once their containers are full, they must carry the heavy water back up the steep, eroded slope and over the long distance home, a burden that falls most heavily on the village's women. This area is prone to cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community.

The Kapito Village Well Project has been fully funded, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a single donor, who has dedicated this well in loving memory of his dearest friend, Emi Murakami. Until drilling begins, the 560 residents of Kapito Village still have no access to safe drinking water. The only water source is a dambo, a shallow, marshy wetland where murky, contaminated water collects among the mud and vegetation. Learners and teachers from the nearby primary school crowd together with villagers at the water's edge, crouching to scoop this brown, sediment-filled water into pots, basins, buckets, and whatever containers they can find. The water is shared with livestock and wild animals, and this area is at high risk for cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community. With funding now secured, drilling, construction, and a blessing by Father Petros will follow, and this page will be updated with photos and video once the well is complete.

The Mataliyana Village Well Project was successfully funded on July 7th 2026 in just four days! Amazing! We will provide more information as soon as well drilling is completed. The 420 residents of Mataliyana Village have no access to safe drinking water. The only water source is a shallow, muddy hole in low-lying ground, where brown, standing water collects. Residents must crouch at the edge of this hole to scoop the murky water into buckets and containers. To reach it, families must travel two kilometers, a burden that falls most heavily on the women and children who make the journey. The water is shared with livestock, and this area is at high risk for cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community.

The Chimbiranjala Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 7 donors, Chimbiranjala Village was fully funded on June 23, 2026. The well was successfully drilled, and clean water reached the surface, running crystal clear from the new borehole. The pump has been installed and the village is now drawing clean water from it. The official pump blessing took place on July 25, 2026, with Father Petros celebrating Holy Mass during the ceremony. A funeral in the community that day made for a smaller gathering than usual, yet the village's gratitude was clear: the people of Chimbiranjala promised to pray for Water of Mercy and all who donated to the well, and they offered gifts of maize, groundnuts, and a goat to support families in need elsewhere in Father Petros's parish. This is the first time Chimbiranjala Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 700 residents, including children and staff at the nearby primary school, now have access to clean, safe drinking water. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Kaputeni Chisi Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 5 donors, Kaputeni Chisi Village was fully funded on June 2, 2026, and the well was successfully drilled on June 24, 2026. The pump has been installed and the village is already drawing clean water from it. On July 3, 2026, the new pump at Kaputeni Chisi Village was formally blessed by Fr. Thomas Gondwe, a brother priest of Father Petros, who came to the village to pray with the community and give thanks to God for the gift of clean water. This is the first time Kaputeni Chisi Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. Before this well, the 440 residents of Kaputeni Chisi Village had no access to safe drinking water. The only water source was a shallow, muddy water hole where residents had to crouch at the eroded bank to scoop brown, contaminated water into buckets and containers. The water was shared with livestock, and this area was at high risk for cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community. The village sits beside a Catholic prayer center, one of 50 prayer centers in Father Petros's parish. A prayer center is a church without a full-time priest. Learners and teachers at the nearby primary school and parishioners at the prayer center all depended on this same contaminated water source.

The Yesaya Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 5 donors, Yesaya Village was fully funded on June 2, 2026. The well was successfully drilled on June 23, 2026. A portion of the borehole collapsed shortly after the initial drilling, a normal complication in freshwater well drilling, and the team resolved it quickly, with clean water reaching the surface. The pump has been installed and the village is already drawing clean water from it. This is the first time Yesaya Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 700 residents now have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Kapili Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 29 donors, the most to fund any single Water of Mercy well to date, Kapili Village was fully funded on May 13, 2026. The well was successfully drilled on June 16, 2026, striking an abundant, steady supply of clean groundwater that surged from the borehole. The pump has been installed and the village is already drawing clean water from it. This is the first time Kapili Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 700 residents, including children and teachers at the nearby primary school, now have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Chimwendo Chisi Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a single donor couple, James and Alicia S., Chimwendo Chisi was fully funded on April 6, 2026, covering 100% of the $5,500 goal in a single gift. Drilling was completed on April 30, 2026, and the village erupted in celebration as clean water shot from the borehole for the first time. The official pump blessing took place on May 7, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over the ceremony. The Chief and Senior Chief were both in attendance, along with many of the villagers who live nearby. This is the first time Chimwendo Chisi Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. All 820 residents, including children and staff at the nearby primary school, now have access to clean, safe drinking water. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Chibekete Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 13 donors, Chibekete Village was fully funded on April 19, 2026. The well was successfully drilled on June 13, 2026, with good water flow confirmed. Completing this well took persistence, as severe diesel fuel shortages and rising costs across Malawi made the drilling operation difficult to schedule and finance, but Father Petros and the team on the ground saw it through. The pump has been installed and the village is already drawing clean water from it. This is the first time Chibekete Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 400 residents, including patients and staff at the village medical health outpost, now have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Bundi Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 19 donors, Bundi Village was fully funded on March 23, 2026. Drilling was completed on May 1, 2026, though getting there required extraordinary persistence — the drilling team surveyed and attempted multiple sites before striking water on the third try, with the crew working through the night to finish the operation. The pump blessing took place on May 22, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over a Mass accompanied by the beautiful voices of the local choir. The outdoor altar was decorated beautifully by the community, and the villagers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Father Petros by presenting him with gifts. You can see that the water flows strong and runs clear. This is the first time Bundi Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 350 residents, including children and staff at the nearby primary school, now have access to clean, safe drinking water. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Chizule Village Well Project has been successfully completed. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a single donor, Steve A. and his 96-year-old mother, Chizule Village was fully funded just days after its project was published on February 7, 2026. Steve A. has a deep and longstanding connection to this mission — he helped fund one of Father Petros's early well projects before Water of Mercy was officially formed, and he and his mother also funded nearly 90% of the Zebediya Village Well Project. Drilling was completed on February 22, 2026, with an excellent water flow. The pump blessing took place on March 3, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over the ceremony. This is the first time Chizule Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 520 people now have access to clean, safe drinking water. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Zakariya Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 16 donors, Zakariya Village was fully funded on March 23, 2026. The well was successfully drilled on May 5, 2026, with clean water flowing in excellent volume. The pump has been installed and the village is already drawing clean water from it. A formal pump blessing with Father Petros is forthcoming. This is the first time Zakariya Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 450 residents now have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

Zebediya Village was successfully funded on January 29, 2026, thanks to 3 generous donors — our first of two villages fully funded that day! Drilling was completed on February 23, 2026, and the water flow was amazing (see the video). The pump blessing took place on March 3, 2026, with Father Petros presiding and many villagers in attendance. This is the first time Zebediya Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 679 people now have access to clean, safe drinking water. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

Msambanyifwa Village was successfully funded on January 12, 2026, thanks to 14 generous donors. Drilling was completed on January 29, 2026, at a depth of 66 meters, and the water flow was extraordinary. The well is now complete and more than 875 residents are drawing fresh, clean water for the first time in their history. No longer must villagers climb down into a dangerous 15-foot (5-meter) deep pit to collect contaminated water. Father Petros has instructed the community to begin using the borehole immediately while they await his arrival for the official blessing ceremony. Due to ongoing flooding in Malawi that began in late December 2025 and continued through February 2026, travel to the 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.

The Luwerezi Village Well Project is complete. Thanks to the generosity of 10 donors, Luwerezi was fully funded on January 29, 2026, our second of two villages fully funded that day. Drilling was completed on March 6, 2026, with the pump installed just days later. The celebration during drilling was extraordinary, with villagers and children breaking into spontaneous song and dance. The official pump blessing took place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over a joyful ceremony attended by approximately 100 community members. In a deeply moving expression of gratitude, community members offered generous gifts of plants, produce, grain, livestock, and money for the poor. This is the first time Luwerezi Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. All 870 residents, including patients and staff at the village clinic and maternity wing, now have access to clean, safe drinking water. With proper care, the well should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Phembe Village Well Project has been successfully completed. The project was fully funded on December 16, 2025, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a single donor, Mrs. Reatha W. Drilling was completed on January 9, 2026, and the drilling, concrete pad, and pump installation were all finished in just three days. The concrete pad features a unique two-level round design that both looks great and functions excellently. The water is exceptionally clear for a newly drilled well. The pump blessing and official handover to the village took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over the ceremony. This is the first time Phembe Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 758 people now have access to clean, safe drinking water. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Mchilawengo Village Well Project has been successfully completed. The project was fully funded on December 31, 2025, and the well was drilled just 18 days later on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The drilling process continued well into the night, with the team working under lights to complete the installation. The drilling operation showed signs of a very good reserve of water, ensuring abundant clean water for the community year-round. The pump blessing and official handover took place on Monday, January 27, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over the ceremony. Approximately 500 people attended the beautiful and colorful celebration, including ~365 school children, 5 traditional chiefs, the Ward Councillor (local politician), school committee members, teachers' staff, and representatives from the Church. This is the first time Mchilawengo Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. More than 670 people now have access to clean, safe drinking water. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Khorwa Village Well Project has been successfully completed. The project was fully funded on December 2, 2025, and drilling was completed on December 21st. The drilling and concrete pad installation were finished in just three days, an exceptionally fast turnaround for a rural installation. The pump blessing took place on Christmas Day, making this the first Christmas that Khorwa Village has ever had access to fresh, clean water. Because the blessing occurred just four days after drilling, the water may appear slightly cloudy in larger containers—this is completely normal for a new well. The drilling process disturbs fine sediments in the earth, and with regular daily pumping, these particles flush out naturally. Within a few weeks of use, the water will run crystal clear. More than 600 people in Khorwa Village now have access to clean, safe drinking water. A local water committee has been established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

Msese Village was successfully funded on December 8, 2025. Drilling began on December 23, 2025, but the team encountered unexpected challenges when they discovered significant mud deposits underground. On December 29, 2025, severe flooding struck Malawi, destroying a key bridge on Main Road 1 and stranding the drilling team's vehicles in Lilongwe. Despite these obstacles, the team persevered and the well is now complete. The community has already begun drawing fresh, clean water from their new borehole. Father Petros has instructed the villagers to use the well immediately while they await his arrival for the official blessing ceremony. Due to ongoing flooding that has continued through February 2026, 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.

Kajombo Village has been successfully completed! With drilling completed on December 22, 2025, the village had access to clean water in time for Christmas Day, the first Christmas that Kajombo Village has ever had fresh, clean water. The formal pump blessing was delayed due to severe flooding in Malawi; Main Road 1, which connects Father Petros' parish to Lilongwe, was cut off at the Mpasazi Bridge in Kasungu District. The blessing ultimately took place on a rainy Monday, January 5, 2026, with Father Petros presiding over the ceremony!  Previously, water scarcity in Kajombo Village has reached a critical and dangerous level. Residents are forced to walk 2 kilometers to fetch water from a shallow, hand-dug well that is shared by both people and livestock. This open water source produces murky, contaminated water that poses severe health risks to the entire community. A properly constructed borehole in Kajombo Village will serve more than 550 people, including students and staff at the nearby primary school. This well will provide clean, safe drinking water to replace the current dangerous water source, dramatically improving the overall health and well-being of residents

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a single donor couple, Kathy and Steve B., Chivinya now has a deep, cased borehole and hand pump delivering safe, clear water for drinking, cooking, washing, and basic hygiene. Water was struck and the borehole was drilled, cased, and completed in just one day, which is an unusually fast turnaround for a rural installation. The community no longer depends on open hand-dug holes in the ground, no longer shares water sources with livestock, and no longer has to collect visibly contaminated water for their children. Clean water is available in the village every day, for everyone. A community-led maintenance group has been established to monitor the pump, handle repairs, and ensure that this well remains reliable not just this season, but year after year, with an expected service life of approximately 75 years.

The Emvuyane Village Well Project has been successfully completed. The project was fully funded on October 31, 2025, and drilling was completed in just three days, an exceptionally fast turnaround for a rural installation. The drilling operation achieved a high water yield, ensuring abundant clean water for the community. The concrete pad and pump installation are complete and the well is now operational. More than 700 people in Emvuyane Village now have access to clean, safe drinking water. The official handover of the well to the community occurred during a Catholic Mass. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

This well project was fully funded on September 20th, 2025, and the well was drilled and installed in just a single long day. The drilling operation struck water at just 30 meters and continued to a full 60 meters to ensure a prolonged lifespan. The boring crew also worked into the night to complete the well and insure proper functioning. This is quite remarkable as the entire drilling and pump installation process was completed in just one day. The well is now operational and serving the community. 

The Kabiza Village Well Project has been successfully completed. The project was fully funded on October 5, 2025, and drilling was completed in just one day, an exceptionally fast turnaround for a rural installation. The drilling operation achieved a very high water yield, ensuring abundant clean water for the community. More than 700 people in Kabiza Village now have access to clean, safe drinking water. The official handover of the well to the community occurred during a Catholic Mass on November 10th 2025. A local water committee will be established for maintenance and management of the well. With proper care, it should serve the community for approximately 75 years.

The Yotamu Village Well Project is complete. This was our first well project in rural Malawi, Africa. The well was funded, drilled, and installed from end to end in just 14 days. The results exceeded our expectations. With continued care, the well will last for three generations (~75 years)! This well was critical because it helped prove that the system we co-developed with Father Petros is both repeatable and scalable. This partnership allows Water of Mercy to operate with minimal overhead while maximizing the impact of every donation we receive.