07/17/2026
Last year, with assistance from AC3 ~ Allen Creek Community Church, we installed a solar-powered water system at Lingadzi Mlimi, and the transformation happening on the ground is absolutely incredible.
Our Programs Manager, Lemson Yohane, just returned from a field visit, and the progress is truly inspiring. Because of this reliable access to water, an amazing 80% of households in the community have now established their own home gardens!
Families are using this water to grow fresh vegetables right in their backyards. Not only is this significantly boosting household nutrition, but it is also saving families the money they would have otherwise spent buying daily veggies at the market.
Now, we are taking it a step further into income generation. We have just introduced a new chilli farming program and distributed seeds to interested farmers. To ensure this venture is productive and sustainable, our team will serve as the off-takers for the chilli produced, creating a direct, reliable income stream for these households.
This is exactly why we invest in water infrastructure. When a community gets a tap water system, the benefits ripple out into every area of life:
* Boosts Household Nutrition: Enables families to maintain thriving, year-round home gardens.
* Reduces Living Costs: Cuts down daily food expenses as families grow their own fresh produce.
* Creates Economic Growth: Opens the door for income-generating cash crops, like the new chilli initiative.
* Improves Health and Hygiene: Provides reliable access to clean water, reducing waterborne diseases.
* Empowers Women and Girls: Drastically reduces the hours spent fetching water, giving girls more time for education and play.
* Builds Community Leadership: Fosters self-reliance and community development through local water management committees.
To maximize this impact, our next step is to introduce bucket drip irrigation kits to replace manual watering cans. This will save water, reduce labor, and scale up productivity even more! We are also setting up a demonstration plot and will provide ongoing training on modern crop management and the use of organic manure.
