Plaque at the well

Mkhizwana Community Gardens is situated in the Thousand Hills region of Kwa-Zulu Natal, the home of the Zulu people in South Africa. In accordance with tradition, the Zulu people who reside in this region live in isolated extended family units (kraals) surrounded by communal land, which is used for cultivation of crops and grazing. The households are widely scattered and access into these areas, generally characterised by rugged topography, is often limited to rudimentary tracks and footpaths.

Normal basic service delivery under these circumstances is obviously very expensive and in many cases not possible.

The landscape.

Contaminated Water
The program initiated under CBN provides a basic water supply to problem areas that have never had any access to any level of domestic quality water.

The existing sources of water are rivers and catchments in the valleys. Although the distance is not far to the water, the terrain makes it a major task to carry a 25 kg container several times a day. These rivers are contaminated by feeding livestock, sewage runoff, washing of clothes and people resulting in frequent outbreaks of cholera. This was the only source of water until they received the borehole made possible by Mrs. Esther Lorraine Errington.

Pumping water.

The immediate benefit goes to the family kraals that surround the well; an estimated 800 people now have access to safe drinking water. Life is tough for these rural people as it is. The benefits of providing safe water affects all aspects of their lives from cleaning the harvested vegetables to feeding baby with healthy cereal mix. Eradicating the diseases that plagued them before will improve their quality of life immensely.

The dedication ceremony was held on Thursday 19th June 2003 at the borehole site in Mkhizwana Community Gardens. The ceremony was attended by Chief Induna and his council members. In addition, Dr. Sydney Gcabashe taught the beneficiaries about basic hygiene.

Donate a Well
Donors can designate their gifts for the wells. The cost is $1,000. Donors receive a specially dedicated well, a wooden plaque, a written report, and a photo album from the dedication ceremony.

To sponsor a well send a check for $1,000 to Wells Project, CBN Center, 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463. Write Well Project in the memo field.