Soak the poor!

Mission Direct has been the first UK organisation to utilise a revolutionary new water pump that is set to transform the lives of millions of people around the world. The Access 1.2 PVC Hand Pump is a simple kit to build a hand drilled well for around £300 – as opposed to around £5,000 for existing mechanical devices.

The pump – originally inspired by drawings by Leonardo DaVinci – has been devised by the American company Water4. Mission Direct Volunteers helped to install the first one for the children of Modern Primary School, Rukungiri. It means that for the first time they have a regular source of clean water close to hand. Another eight such pumps are to be deployed around the village in the coming year.

Tim Martindale, overseas director for Mission Direct said that the new low cost wells were a crucial innovation “This technology revolutionises the access to clean potable water for billions of people around the globe, who currently rely on walking miles or unclean sources of water like ditches. We are delighted to in at the beginning of this revolution and hope to make this technology available to other partners around the world.”

Long term Mission Direct volunteer Rainer will be travelling to Water4 in the US to receive training in the techniques of well drilling. He will work with Mission Direct to build wells for a number of our projects.

To learn more about Water4 pumps go to www.water4.org

Mission Direct will be laying water pipes from the Rukungiri well in 2011 to give the children of Modern Primary school running water and sanitation. To join a Rukungiri team call Jonathan Brown on 01582 720056 or go to www.missiondirect.org/