Water of Mercy
Zakariya Village Well Project
Zakariya Village Well Project
Location: Zakariya Village, Malawi Africa
Population: 450+
Current Water Situation: 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.
Project Impact: Before this well was installed, the 450+ residents of Zakariya Village had no access to safe drinking water. The only water source was a dambo, a shallow, marshy wetland where murky, contaminated water collected among the grass and mud. Residents had to kneel in the wet ground to scoop this brown, sediment-filled water into buckets and containers for drinking, cooking, and daily use. Livestock and wild animals shared the same source, and this area was prone to cholera and other waterborne diseases, presenting severe health risks to the entire community. Some residents walked 1.5 kilometers to reach the nearest borehole in Chizani Village, a well Water of Mercy constructed that already serves over 500 people. That daily journey, often made by women and children carrying heavy containers, was the only alternative to drinking from the dambo. Today, more than 450 people have access to clean, safe drinking water directly in their village, eliminating the need to kneel in a muddy marsh or make a 1.5-kilometer walk to a neighboring village. The risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases has been dramatically reduced, and families now have reliable, year-round access to clean water, breaking the cycle of disease caused by their former contaminated water source. With proper maintenance and management by the community water committee, this vital resource should serve Zakariya Village for approximately 75 years.
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