What We DO
The Rosshirt Water for Africa Foundation, Inc. drills and maintains water wells (boreholes) that bring accessible, safe and clean drinking water to thousands of people EVERY DAY.
To date, our wells serve
70,000
people living in undeveloped and remote areas of Zimbabwe, Africa.
The Problem
More than 67% of Zimbabwe’s population live in rural areas. According to a recent report by the Human Rights Watch, a third of Zimbabwe’s rural population is without proper water infrastructures. This forces many to resort to unsafe alternatives such as unprotected, hand-dug wells. These wells are often exposed to an array of life-threatening microbiological pollutants that spread diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
In the developed areas of Zimbabwe where water infrastructures do exist, proper maintenance to ensure upkeep is often neglected. This can lead to shut offs, leaving thousands without water to bathe, flush toilets, cook, and drink. When tap water does flow, it is often contaminated with sewage.
Women and young girls are tasked with the challenge of walking long distances daily to collect water from unsafe sources, such as polluted ponds and rivers.
44 lbs
is the average weight of a filled bucket of unsafe water that an African woman carries on her head.
6 miles
is the average distance walked daily by an African woman - or girl - collecting water for her family.
Our Solution
The Rosshirt Water for Africa Foundation makes certain that each well is dug deeply enough (at least 80 meters) to ensure a steady flow of water and prevent the risk of contamination that is often found at more shallow levels. Most of the other boreholes in Zimbabwe are not deep enough, nor are they properly maintained. RWFAF has always been committed to routine inspections of each of its well to ensure they continue to deliver safe and accessible water to the people we serve.
In June 2021, RWFAF commissioned its first-ever solar-powered well. This well is the first of many future sustainability-focused projects.
Learn more about our first-ever solar powered well at Rusaza School.
How We Do It
Pure and simple, our donors are how we do it!
Our success continues because of the donations and caring of the wonderful people and grantors who financially support the Rosshirt Water for Africa Foundation.
We continue to fundraise and apply for grants so that we may drill new wells and continue to maintain all existing ones.
The diagrams below show the structural components and how they are integrated in both the basic Bush Pump and Solar-Powered Pump.
How We Do It
