Moore Water in Nangabo

Safe water saves lives.

Between 2012 and 2013 we turned this:

into this, for around 100 families in the community and the children of Jolly Mercy Learning Centre.

On Saturday 22nd March it was UN Water’s World Water Day.

Causes, organisations and individuals spent the day hosting events and activities to raise awareness about worldwide water issues: lack of access to clean and safe water, usage of water and energy and sustainability. We took part in the day through our Facebook page, showcasing some projects we’ve helped implement, the brilliant work CALM Africa volunteers have done themselves and highlighting the water-related issues experienced in Uganda.  https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenFirstUganda

I am Natalie Moore, Director of Children First Uganda and volunteer of CALM Africa and this is my brief story of the Moore Water campaign.

In October 2011 I visited Uganda for the second time to work with CALM Africa, this time with 3 friends – Susan Wiseman, Lisa Vicary and Sarah Melville. Within a couple of days of being there, we had seen the pool that was the water source for the local community and our school, Jolly Mercy, particularly in the dry season. The pool is a natural spring to provide hundreds of people with water but, with the surrounding environment and agriculture, it was unprotected, dirty and contaminated. People would often not boil the water, drinking it straight from the pool along with everything else in it. From that one visit and conversation, the project began.

Over the following months, through various activities and the generosity of many people, we raised approximately £3,500 to build the well and install a hand pump. Of course, many individuals’ donations contributed to the fund and a huge thank you to every one. Our sincere thanks also goes to several key people and organisations who helped make it happen:

– After I spent one very, very warm summer day baking(!), Loughborough Design School at Loughborough University made a fantastic contribution by braving my brownies and making lots of extra donations

– At the CFU Spring Ball 2012, I was presented with a cheque for a whopping £500 from Matt Travis at Enzygo Ltd (http://www.enzygo.com)

– A giant sleepover, bake sales and various activities of the pupils at Haberdasher’s Monmouth School for Girls made a big difference

– Musically-talented friends played a charity gig at the Marr’s Bar in Worcester, raising over £300 (thanks guys!)

…just to name a few things!

This well now provides protected, clean water to the community and pupils of CALM Africa’s primary school and we are so grateful for the huge amount of support this project received. Moore Water is being kept open as an on-going campaign to raise money for future water work and maintenance of the well. To keep in touch with any water-related work we do, you can follow our new Moore Water Facebook page,