Ntando has seen the devastating impact that a lack of water can have on Zimbabwean families. With shallow backyard wells drying up, people are forced to look for water in streams and rivers, which are often contaminated.

Ntando was working as a sales person when he saw an advertisement for a job with Showers of Blessings. He had known of Showers of Blessings for some time and saw the opportunity to drill boreholes as a way to positively impact rural communities.

Since starting work with Showers of Blessings in 2017, Ntando has become familiar with one common question.

“Can you drill a borehole for me?”

Individuals in sub-Saharan Africa make do with under 20 litres of water per day, compared with 300 litres per day in Australia.

This is the reality for many in rural Zimbabwean communities, where accessing drinking water is not as simple as turning on a tap. Collecting water is a difficult task which takes many hours and a great deal of perseverance. Because water is so heavy to carry, they must rely on using less.

Communities in sub-Saharan Africa spend a collective 16 million hours collecting water every day.

Communities ask for boreholes and, as a result, they benefit from better health and saved time. This time can be spent working, studying or maintaining their homes.

For Ntando, the process of drilling a borehole is more challenging and rewarding than he could have imagined.

“As I get involved, it’s not only about drilling, but working with communities at large,” Ntando explains.

“I don’t just rock up and say that I’m going to dig a bore.”

Ntando and the Showers of Blessings team conduct research, visit the local council area and work with the community to install boreholes. Ntando makes many trips to decide where the borehole will go, to recruit help from the community and to install the borehole.

While it is a difficult task, Ntando sees the impact that safe water is having on rural communities, and it makes him smile.

People are much happier to collect water from a borehole than from distant rivers and streams. Being able to access safe water from a borehole means that they no longer have to worry about how clean the water is.

Ntando is overjoyed to be working on such important projects. He encourages everyone to give to the work of Showers of Blessings so he can continue to drill boreholes and make a difference.

“We are adding dignity to the lives of people living in rural areas.”

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Find out more about how you can help Ntando continue this life-changing work at SafeWaterSeptember.org.au