Project

Shangwe village well project

"We are custodians of our natural resources." In Shangwe, Zimbabwe, a citizen-led movement addresses local challenges by engaging the community through the drilling of a well.
Picture of a group of three women smiling and sitting outside their house in Zimbabwe

A movement mobilized by citizens around actions for sustainable development, has responded to the call of villagers in a rural area of Zimbabwe to help them drill a well. Inhabitants of Shangwe have to travel long distances to fetch clean water for domestic use. In addition, they had to set up their gardens far away from their homes, along streams and rivers, due to a lack of water. 

A paradise restoration movement is a South African citizens' initiative. It accompanies the project, which was launched after a survey and meetings with inhabitants and other stakeholders. These exchanges showed the urgency of drilling a permanent and easily accessible source of clean water for domestic and agricultural use. They also highlighted the need for environmental education to help villagers understand how to care for the well, and from destroying nearby forests that play an important role in the water cycle and water conservation. 

A well to change mindsets 

This drilling is the starting point for the villagers to initiate self-sustaining social development projects. Part of the solution includes a follow-up project of planting more trees of diverse species with the people in the area, fruit trees and indigenous and exotic trees that they can later use for firewood. The community depends on tobacco, which requires chopping down many trees for it to be cured properly in their drying barns. 

The big challenge today is to raise funds and resources to complete drilling, installation and powering of the borehole. 

Are you ready to support this project? 

Picture of a group of three women smiling and sitting outside their house in Zimbabwe
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Project began: 24/06/2021

Leading organisation: Panta Planta Tree International

The country where the team is based: South Africa

Themes: Biodiversity, Education for Sustainable Development, Hydrology, Local and Indigenous Knowledge, Ocean

Tags: #Africa #Women #Youth 

Project needs

  • Communication strategy design 
  • Crowdfunding 
  • Digital communication 
  • Equipment supply 
  • In search of financial partners 
  • Partnerships development 
  • Social Media 
  • Sponsorship/ Philanthropy 
  • Strategy/advocacy 
  • Training
  • Volunteer workforce 

So, want to help this project?

Are you excited to participate?