Introducing Sally

“Throughout March I am only drinking water as part of Temwa’s Parched March.  I am so grateful to be able to turn on a tap and enjoy clean and safe water. This is why I’m so passionate about providing water filters to remote communities in Malawi.” 

Sally Taylor

Sally Taylor has supported Temwa for years. This year she decided to take on the Parched March challenge. Parched March is as much of a challenge as climbing a mountain, Sally has discovered. Giving up all fluids except water requires dedication, discipline, and lots of support. It means giving up Coffee, Tea, Alcohol and all the other delicious drinks we’re lucky to have in the UK.

“I’m not finding it as easy as I thought – I miss my early morning tea or mid-morning coffee. But when I feel tempted the picture that springs to mind is the muddy river water that is the ONLY source of water for so many communities.”

Access to clean water in Nkhata Bay North is limited, but it’s all starting to change.

Nkhata Bay North is an area roughly the size of Somerset and it’s home to around 14,000 people. It’s one of the remotest areas in Malawi. As many as 80% of households in Nkhata Bay North, especially along the lakeshore, cannot access clean and safe water for drinking and washing. Waterborne diseases, including bilharzia, diarrhoea, intestinal parasites and even cholera are common due to reliance on open water sources, poor sanitation infrastructure, and poor hygiene practices.

At the same time, healthcare services are inadequate and hard to access due to the area’s location, landscape, low population density and lack of reliable transport infrastructure. All too often, the community loses citizens to long-term illness and death due to poverty, poor health awareness and lack of access to health services.

How does Temwa’s Water Filter Project help?

Since the project began in 2017, 4,000 people have been able to drink clean water. Filters provided by Temwa and money raised by people like Sally have led to an 85% reduction in water-borne diseases. This means children can stay in school because they are healthier, and adults can earn a better living.

Using money from the payback scheme linked to the water filters, the communities reinvest the money into community development, which aims to improve health services,  sanitation, and education.

Thanks to these funds, New Salawe plans to build an under 5’s health clinic which will help children access health care.

Every £5 raised by supporters like Sally will provide a person with clean water for 3 years. Read more about Temwa’s Water Filter Projects.