Water of Mercy
Nkhamenya Village Well Project
Nkhamenya Village Well Project
Location: Nkhamenya Village, Malawi Africa
Population: 1000
Current Water Situation: The Nkhamenya Village Well Project was successfully funded on October 1st 2026! The entire cost of the well was covered by St. John Cantius Parish through the Archdiocese of Chicago 2026 Mission Appeal. We will provide more information as soon as well drilling is completed. In Nkhamenya Village, collecting water means climbing down into the ground. The 1,000 residents have no access to safe drinking water and depend on a few unlined holes dug by hand and on a shallow dambo, a marshy wetland. The holes are deep, with steep walls of bare, eroded earth, and what gathers at the bottom is a small pool of cloudy brown water. Residents lower themselves down the side of the pit, crouch at the water's edge and scoop with a cup, filling a bucket one cupful at a time. In the dry months the dambo shrinks to a muddy channel shared with cattle and wild animals, so the village draws its water from the same places the animals use. A primary school serves the village, and its children depend on this same water. This area is at high risk for cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community.
Project Impact: A properly constructed borehole in Nkhamenya Village will serve 1,000 people, including the children who attend the village primary school. This essential infrastructure will provide clean, safe drinking water directly in the village, ending the daily climb down into deep, unlined holes to scoop cloudy water a cupful at a time, and the community's dependence on a dambo that shrinks to a muddy channel in the dry months. The project will dramatically reduce the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases that threaten this community, fundamentally improving the overall health and well-being of residents. School children will have access to safe water during their educational day, supporting better health outcomes and learning environments. Families will gain reliable access to clean water year-round without risking injury or illness.
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