For Two Best Friends in Malawi, Clean Water Could Change Everything

Christina, 9, and Sylvia, 9, are best friends. The two girls share almost everything. They are the same age, attend the same school, and live in the same village. Sadly, they also share the pain of falling sick from unsafe water.

Before Cyclone Freddy struck Malawi in 2023, life was different for the two girls. Their village had clean, piped water, and both children were healthy and full of dreams.

Christina aspires to become a teacher, while Sylvia dreams of becoming a nurse. However, when Cyclone Freddy hit Phalombe District, their village was not spared. The cyclone destroyed homes, crops, and the water system that once provided safe drinking water to the community, putting their aspirations at risk.

Since then, the only source of water for the village has been the Muloza River, which is far from their homes and unsafe to drink.

Along the banks of the Muloza River, people bathe, wash clothes, and water their cattle. Animals drink from the same river, yet downstream, Sylvia, Christina, and many other families in Naliya Village still collect water from it for drinking and cooking.

“Since the water we drink is untreated, I often miss school because of diarrhoea and other illnesses. I was even diagnosed with tapeworms recently, “says Christina.

For many families in Christina and Sylvia’s village, access to clean water has become a daily struggle. With less than 45 percent of people having access to safe water, compared to 49 percent at district level, children spend long hours fetching water instead of learning. Mothers worry as their children fall sick more often.

The lack of clean water remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children, making the dream of a healthy community feel far away.

 “Once we have clean water, I will  never miss classes again.  I will be a happy and healthy child,” says Sylvia.