Water scarcity is overwhelmingly affecting students at our school

Charlotte Katsala, 17 years old, Mphunzi Community Day Secondary School, Form 4.

By Charlotte Katsala

Mphunzi Community Day Secondary School is in Pinji village in Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza district. The school lies at the bottom of Mphunzi hill and is very close to Mphunzi health centre.

The school has a shortage of water. This negatively affects us students. There is only one borehole available which caters for students, teachers and the surrounding community. Unfortunately, sometimes it dries up and students have to wait for long periods of time until it water starts again. Lack of water means that there is poor sanitation at our school.

Luckily for us, UNICEF is in the process of putting in place new water taps at our school. This will change things and make life simple for students at the school. Having water on campuss will help us to concentrate fully on our studies.

We will have good drinking water. Our toilets will be clean and washing hands after using the toilets will be very easy. Even washing cloths will also be easy. We will drink water without the fear or becoming sick.

This will help students to achieve their goals and have a bright future.

Out teachers are happy with the water project. Some teachers have been teaching us the importance of water and how we can use the water to benefit us.

I have been to the place where they will be pumping water from the underground. Builders are in the process of digging trenches and building a tank. Once they are completed, we will take care of the of these things because water is life.

People from the community around the school are also happy because they will no longer have to scramble for water. They will drink good water. Diseases that start because of lack of water will also end.

the students and teachers have a lot of hope in the new borehole being constructed. We will be very happy once this water project is finished. It will change the lives of people.

**Charlotte Katsala is a 17 years old form 4 student at Mphunzi Community Day Secondary School**