{"id":36517,"date":"2025-11-23T01:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T00:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madeblue.org\/?p=36517"},"modified":"2026-03-10T10:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:33:07","slug":"field-notes-from-malawi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madeblue.org\/en\/field-notes-from-malawi\/","title":{"rendered":"Field Notes From Malawi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Made Blue Foundation and ambassadors Quooker, i-team Global, Tribe London and MERKKwater with Amref Health Africa Malawi. Photo: Lusayo Banda, <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meeting the Communities Behind Our Water Projects<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

In November, we travelled to Malawi with a group of Made Blue ambassadors, Quooker, i-team Global, Tribe and MERKKwater, to see how reliable water access is improving daily life. The visit offered a rare, unfiltered look at the reality on the ground, from the basic infrastructure communities depend on to the people and partnerships keeping it running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Update: 23 November 2025<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
A community member showing a dried up river where residents used to collect water. <\/a> Photo: Lusayo Banda, Amref Malawi.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Seeing the Reality: When Basic Water Infrastructure Is the Only Option<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The largest parts of Malawi don’t have access to piped water. Instead, water access for most communities still begins and ends with one essential element: a borehole. For thousands of households, it\u2019s the single point of safe water \u2014 serving families, schoolchildren and health workers every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a borehole breaks down, the alternative is not a tap nearby. It\u2019s often a return to old, unsafe sources: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shallow wells, muddy riverbeds, or seasonal streams that can be far away on foot. Walking with residents to one of these former sources made this reality painfully tangible. What looks like a simple infrastructure challenge is, in fact, a daily struggle with direct consequences for health and dignity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

“<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Small things can make a big difference. We saw around four boreholes, and if you hear the stories and what difference it made for people, that really makes you even more enthusiastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Walter Peteri<\/em>, Owner and Chairman, Quooker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

“<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Boreholes for Communities, Health Centres and Schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Throughout Machinga and Zomba, we saw the impact of our joint work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • New boreholes providing safe water to remote communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Repaired and rehabilitated systems bringing old water points back to life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Strong water access in health centres, where clean water is essential for safe deliveries, infection prevention and patient care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Improved water access in schools, enabling better hygiene and creating a healthier learning environment for students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    At each site communities reminded us that water is not just an infrastructure investment. It’s the foundation of health, education and opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    Made Blue founder Machiel van Dooren and water committee member Margaret Fred celebrating their new borehole. Photo: Lusayo Banda, Amref Malawi.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    I had the pleasure \u2014 the honor \u2014 to put a bucket on my head and walk. I couldn’t make it past 50 meters. It was so heavy. And that was a small one. To step into their shoes for a second: it was very impactful for me personally. 
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Eva Senhub<\/em>, Environmental Manager, Tribe London Canary Wharf<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \"\"
    Made Blue and partners appreciating a renovated water system at Mangamba Health Centre. Photo: Lusayo Banda, Amref Malawi.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Appreciating How Boreholes Transform Daily Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The strongest impressions came from the moments spent with community members proudly showing the reliable water point that replaced long walks to unsafe sources, explaining how accessible water helps them wash hands, use latrines safely, and stay in class. Health workers described how water access changes the entire rhythm of their clinic, from cleaning instruments to supporting maternity care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Clean water doesn\u2019t simply fill a jerrycan. It gives back time, reduces disease, increases safety, and allows families to plan their days rather than react to scarcity. Small infrastructure has enormous human outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    We walked back to the new situation, and it\u2019s incredible: now they can just pump water. The children can go to school and don’t have to walk all those kilometers for water.  
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Erik Groen<\/em>, Imagineer, i-team Global<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n

    Learning About Entrepreneurship to Keep Water Infrastructure Going<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A recurring theme throughout the visit was sustainability. Boreholes can’t rely on goodwill alone; they need systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We saw how important it is to support communities in managing water points as small enterprises, ensuring funds are collected for repairs, spare parts and maintenance. This entrepreneurial approach creates ownership, accountability and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was encouraging to see local committees explaining their savings structures, fee collection, and repair plans \u2014 practical solutions that keep water flowing long after the initial installation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    A protected wellhead of a borehole. Photo: Lusayo Banda, Amref Malawi.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    We’ve learned a lot about resource mobilisation and income generation, ensuring that there’s funds available in the communities to make sure that the hardware, the borehole, the pumps and the infrastructure can be maintained, repaired, and maybe even expanded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Machiel van Dooren<\/em>, co-founder, Made Blue Foundation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \"\"
    Darkson Matchado and Precious Mhango, team Amref Malawi. Photo: Lusayo Banda, Amref Malawi.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Expertise on the ground making it happen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Behind every working water point is a team making sure it stays that way. During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet the dedicated staff of Amref Health Africa in Malawi, our implementing partner in Machinga and Zomba. Their work goes far beyond constructing or repairing a borehole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They train communities, build the capacity of Water Point Committees, and ensure each system has ownership, transparency and a realistic plan for maintenance. They also integrate water access with hygiene education, maternal health programmes and community outreach \u2014 because water is more than a convenience; it’s a prerequisite for public health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    WATCH THE VIDEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n