If you have enough drinkable water in a borehole near your school, your institution could benefit from a multimillion-rand expansion drive by PlayPumps International and Roundabout Outdoors.
The drive aims to improve the lives of 10-million people in the next three years through the delivery of playpump water systems to communities where access to water is still a challenge.
The playpump water pumping system has been recognised internationally as one of the most innovative providers of water in the world. As children are having fun on a roundabout, their actions put a water pump into action that can generate up to 1 400 litres of water an hour from a borehole depth of between 40m and 100m. A tap provides access to the water. Excess water is diverted back down the borehole.
Thanks to the help of businesses, non-governmental organisations and donor foundations, about 800 pumps have been installed in South African communities already, benefiting about one million people. Following a $16,4million (R113-million) commitment from the United States government, at least a thousand more playpumps systems can be installed across Africa.
Other countries set to benefit are Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Learners and teachers at schools that already have playpumps said the system made a huge difference.
Pleasure Sebapu, a learner at NP Mathabela Secondary School in Acornhoek on the border between Mpumalanga and Limpopo, said learners no longer bring bottles of water to school and are keen to start a vegetable garden.
‘With the PlayPump at our disposal and with its attractive colours, it’s where most of us spend our spare time during break. Well, truthfully, some kids bunk classes to go play there. And when confronted they simply say: ‘We weren’t playing, we were pumping water’,” he said. — the Teacher reporter
Want a pump?
If you think your school qualifies for a playpump system, SMS ‘teacher” and ’roundabout” to 32510 (SMS costs R1). the Teacher will put Roundabout Outdoors and PlayPumps International in touch with your school.