"Maszi ndi moyo," Charles Banda likes to say in Chichewa, the language of Malawi.
"Water is life."
Since 1995, when this self-styled water man gave up a good job as a firefighter at the Lilongwe Airport to form the not-for-profit Freshwater Project of Malawi, Banda and his crews have drilled more than 850 wells around rural villages.
They've also constructed hundreds of pit latrines at schools where no sanitation existed before. Adolescent girls often dropped out of school because they were too self-conscious to urinate and defecate without privacy.
These simple sanitary measures have prevented water-borne diseases in untold thousands of impoverished villagers in one of the smallest and poorest countries in Africa. It's also helped increase school attendance in preteen girls.
The Malawi water man struggles against the grim tide of 6,000 poor people, mainly children, who die each day around the world due to a lack of safe drinking water and basic sanitation, according to the World Health Organization.
Banda visited the Capital Region recently to discuss his water project and to attend free screenings of a documentary, "Water First," by Amy Hart of East Greenbush, an independent filmmaker whose day job is video director and producer at the University at Albany's School of Public Health.
Working on a shoestring budget of her own savings and small private donations, Hart has made two trips to Malawi, in 2004 and 2006, and shot 90 hours of film on Banda's efforts.
"Charles has so much energy, charisma and integrity," she said. "He's totally dedicated to this work."
His motto: "One village. One bore-hole."
He has his work cut out for him. More than half of Malawi's 12 million people do not have clean drinking water nearby and two-thirds do not have access to sanitation.
Typically, villagers dip buckets into ponds and rivers, which are often contaminated because not even outhouses exist.
Gathering water for cooking, washing and drinking is the job of girls and women -- who carry heavy buckets on their heads, often 2 miles or more in the predawn hours, from a water source to their huts.
Banda's mission is about more than stainless steel wells and brick latrines.
"We mobilize the villagers to help us build, we make them responsible for its upkeep and we educate them about sanitation," said Banda, a small, wiry 51-year-old with a wife, six children and social work diploma.
An itinerant preacher, Banda began his quest after arriving at a village to deliver a sermon he never gave because children were being carried away on stretchers, stricken with cholera from drinking tainted water.
Banda's project is funded primarily through Water for People, a not-for-profit based in Denver, where he began his U.S. visit.
In Malawi, Banda has a 90 percent success rate drilling the low-tech wells 100-150 feet deep and tapping into aquifers. The water is tested to make sure it's safe for drinking. Each hand-pumped well can serve about 50 families.
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Aviva’s new man
In two weeks, Richard Harvey, chief executive of Aviva, is disappearing into the jungles of Africa. His replacement at the UK’s biggest insurer will be the current finance man, Andrew Moss. Once the maps of Malawi have been tidied off his new desk, what should investors expect Aviva’s new leader to do?
Although he is not yet in a position to sing his plans from the rooftops, there are already some clues. Mr Moss has been gradually taking the reins since his appointment was announced in February and Aviva has done a handful of small deals which point to the possible direction for the company. Those hoping for radical change look set to be disappointed.
No bad thing, perhaps, as the transactions make good sense. For example, in Turkey, Aviva is getting together with a couple of domestic banks to create the country’s largest pension provider, while in Spain it has entered a new distribution partnership. The first move underlines Aviva’s commitment to faster-growing markets; the second shows an understanding that when selling insurance and savings products, distribution is everything. The problem, however, is that gradual expansion may not be enough to capture the imagination of investors.
Since Aviva’s abortive attempt to buy Prudential last year, ambivalence seems to have crept in. Over the past 12 months, Aviva’s share price has underperformed the sector – and the broader UK market – by more than 10 per cent. More gallingly, Prudential’s shares have done better than Aviva’s by 25 per cent over the period. This is partly because Prudential remains a bid target, but low-hanging operational improvements also suggest that Aviva was probably right to go after its UK rival after all. That there now appears to be nothing anywhere near as exciting on Aviva’s horizon may, unjustifiably, continue to weigh on the stock.
Although he is not yet in a position to sing his plans from the rooftops, there are already some clues. Mr Moss has been gradually taking the reins since his appointment was announced in February and Aviva has done a handful of small deals which point to the possible direction for the company. Those hoping for radical change look set to be disappointed.
No bad thing, perhaps, as the transactions make good sense. For example, in Turkey, Aviva is getting together with a couple of domestic banks to create the country’s largest pension provider, while in Spain it has entered a new distribution partnership. The first move underlines Aviva’s commitment to faster-growing markets; the second shows an understanding that when selling insurance and savings products, distribution is everything. The problem, however, is that gradual expansion may not be enough to capture the imagination of investors.
Since Aviva’s abortive attempt to buy Prudential last year, ambivalence seems to have crept in. Over the past 12 months, Aviva’s share price has underperformed the sector – and the broader UK market – by more than 10 per cent. More gallingly, Prudential’s shares have done better than Aviva’s by 25 per cent over the period. This is partly because Prudential remains a bid target, but low-hanging operational improvements also suggest that Aviva was probably right to go after its UK rival after all. That there now appears to be nothing anywhere near as exciting on Aviva’s horizon may, unjustifiably, continue to weigh on the stock.
Old computers find new life in Malawi
The Taipei City Government has found a unique, if faraway, place to donate its old computers -- the southern African country of Malawi.
The computers were originally used in the city government's department of labor. Now 162 of them are on their way to Malawi, where they will be reserved for use by underprivileged children.
The donation of the computers was organized by a private Buddhist foundation. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and Malawi's ambassador to Taiwan, Thengo Maloya, were both on hand for the donation ceremony on Tuesday morning.
Mayor Hau said that while the second hand computers are not worth much, they are priceless to those who need them.
The selection of Malawi as the recipient for the computers is not a random choice. Malawi is one of Taiwan's remaining 24 allies. Its capital, Lilongwe, is also a sister city of Taipei.
The computers were originally used in the city government's department of labor. Now 162 of them are on their way to Malawi, where they will be reserved for use by underprivileged children.
The donation of the computers was organized by a private Buddhist foundation. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and Malawi's ambassador to Taiwan, Thengo Maloya, were both on hand for the donation ceremony on Tuesday morning.
Mayor Hau said that while the second hand computers are not worth much, they are priceless to those who need them.
The selection of Malawi as the recipient for the computers is not a random choice. Malawi is one of Taiwan's remaining 24 allies. Its capital, Lilongwe, is also a sister city of Taipei.
Mayo people are making a real difference in Malawi
LAST year, eight Mayo people (Marcella Heffernan, Ciara McDermott, Nuala O’Shea, Marie O’Malley, John Maughan, Catherine Brennan, Eamon O’Hara and John Connolly), set off for Malawi as part of an 80-strong group from all over Ireland on the ‘Playing for Life’ programme.
In total, 20 people travelled from each of the four provinces and the team comprised of people from all walks of life, featuring men and women with a variety of useful skills and attributes.
This year, three people from Connacht (Liam McHale, Colin Regan and Eleanor Shanley) are making that same trip to do what they can for the people of Malawi. Mayo’s Liam McHale is also organising a Golf Classic, to be held in Ballina, to raise funds for the charity.
The aim of the ‘Playing for Life’ charity is to assist in developing a safe and happy environment for young people through sport and play in several underprivileged areas. The mission is also to create an educational series of games, focusing on health, self-respect and that of others, friendship, social integration, participation and team skills. The charity also strives to involve the local community in building multi-purpose facilities, sharing skills, empowering others, improving self-sufficiency, and leaving behind a tangible legacy.
All volunteers have been asked to raise a minimum of
•5,500 prior to departure and from this, the volunteers’ air fare, accommodation and meals will be paid, with the remainder of the fundraising used to develop the activities for Playing for Life in Malawi.
This year, the group will develop two projects in Tanzania and Malawi and urgently need Builders, Dressmakers and Home Economic teachers for their programmes. If you can help or are in a position to spare two weeks of your time at the end of September or the first two weeks in November, please contact 045 881607/ fax 045 881609.
Malawi is a small, narrow country, wedged between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, and bordered on its eastern flank by Lake Malawi. The vast majority of the population live in the rural areas, earning their living from the land. Many areas in Malawi are regarded as food deficit, resulting in severe poverty. The average day’s wage in the region is 1 and an average cup of coffee in the area costs 25cent.
The problems that are experienced on a daily basis by the people of this region will not be solved in a day, a week, a month, or even a year. But, it is the aim of this particular ‘Playing for Life’ mission to do whatever little bit they can to help the Malawian natives.
Mayo Ladies football star Marcella Heffernan, who took part in the programme last year, said that she was delighted to be part of the Playing for Life programme in Malawi.
“The experience exceeded all of my expectations. It truly was a life-changing experience,” Marcella told the Western People.
Marcella went on to describe her amazement of the attitudes of the people she met in Malawi. “I’ve never known anyone to be so happy with so little. They really did appreciate the little things,” she said.
Marcella took part in the programme as a sports instructor for the children of Malawi.
“Their ability to pick up games was incredible, the children learned so much in such a short space of time,” recalled the Mayo footballer.
When asked what she thought of the overall experience Marcella commented that the only thing she could compare that experience to was winning the All-Ireland with Mayo Ladies football. “I would highly recommend the trip to anyone who wants to make a change for the better in these people’s lives,” concluded the caring Mayo lady.
In total, 20 people travelled from each of the four provinces and the team comprised of people from all walks of life, featuring men and women with a variety of useful skills and attributes.
This year, three people from Connacht (Liam McHale, Colin Regan and Eleanor Shanley) are making that same trip to do what they can for the people of Malawi. Mayo’s Liam McHale is also organising a Golf Classic, to be held in Ballina, to raise funds for the charity.
The aim of the ‘Playing for Life’ charity is to assist in developing a safe and happy environment for young people through sport and play in several underprivileged areas. The mission is also to create an educational series of games, focusing on health, self-respect and that of others, friendship, social integration, participation and team skills. The charity also strives to involve the local community in building multi-purpose facilities, sharing skills, empowering others, improving self-sufficiency, and leaving behind a tangible legacy.
All volunteers have been asked to raise a minimum of
•5,500 prior to departure and from this, the volunteers’ air fare, accommodation and meals will be paid, with the remainder of the fundraising used to develop the activities for Playing for Life in Malawi.
This year, the group will develop two projects in Tanzania and Malawi and urgently need Builders, Dressmakers and Home Economic teachers for their programmes. If you can help or are in a position to spare two weeks of your time at the end of September or the first two weeks in November, please contact 045 881607/ fax 045 881609.
Malawi is a small, narrow country, wedged between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, and bordered on its eastern flank by Lake Malawi. The vast majority of the population live in the rural areas, earning their living from the land. Many areas in Malawi are regarded as food deficit, resulting in severe poverty. The average day’s wage in the region is 1 and an average cup of coffee in the area costs 25cent.
The problems that are experienced on a daily basis by the people of this region will not be solved in a day, a week, a month, or even a year. But, it is the aim of this particular ‘Playing for Life’ mission to do whatever little bit they can to help the Malawian natives.
Mayo Ladies football star Marcella Heffernan, who took part in the programme last year, said that she was delighted to be part of the Playing for Life programme in Malawi.
“The experience exceeded all of my expectations. It truly was a life-changing experience,” Marcella told the Western People.
Marcella went on to describe her amazement of the attitudes of the people she met in Malawi. “I’ve never known anyone to be so happy with so little. They really did appreciate the little things,” she said.
Marcella took part in the programme as a sports instructor for the children of Malawi.
“Their ability to pick up games was incredible, the children learned so much in such a short space of time,” recalled the Mayo footballer.
When asked what she thought of the overall experience Marcella commented that the only thing she could compare that experience to was winning the All-Ireland with Mayo Ladies football. “I would highly recommend the trip to anyone who wants to make a change for the better in these people’s lives,” concluded the caring Mayo lady.
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