Water Well Restoration
KILIMAHEWA | TANZANIA
In July 2024, GO Campaign awarded a grant to Kilimahewa Modern Secondary School to help with the construction of a water well and storage system in Moshi, Tanzania. The project benefitted 290 students in its first year, and will benefit the school’s 400 students each year.
The Kilimahewa Women and Orphan Centre for Education (KIWOCE) empowers children from over 100 disadvantaged families in Tanzania by providing them with access to high-quality secondary education and practical skills training in computers, life skills, entrepreneurship, and horticulture. Partnering with Kilimahewa Modern Secondary School, they equip students with the knowledge and confidence to break the cycle of poverty and build brighter futures. KIWOCE also serves children with disabilities and provides shelter and clean water to youth in need.
Prior to the well’s construction, Kilimahewa had a chronic water shortage due to frequent and unpredictable disruptions to water service by the utility company and a water well in dire need of repair. The water shortage posed tremendous hardship for a school whose staff and student population live in dormitories on campus and rely on food they grow in vegetable gardens.
Through this project, a borehole was drilled, equipped with a reliable submersible pump, and connected to water storage tanks, ensuring a consistent water supply for the school and neighboring households. The system has proven to be effective, eliminated water shortages and improving hygiene and sanitation within the school community. In 2024, the project directly benefited approximately 200 students and five neighboring households. This year, with increasing student enrollment, the project is expected to serve approximately 400 students along with the same five households, which collectively consist of about 30 individuals. The expanded access to clean water has significantly improved daily school operations, including sanitation, meal preparation, and general student well-being.
Before the Water Well Project, Katharina, a 17-year-old student at Kilimahewa Modern School, struggled with the lack of consistent water supply. During dry spells, there was often no water at all, which affected the students' ability to stay clean and hydrated. Katharina recalls how long queues for water would form whenever there was a little flow, taking away valuable study time. This inconvenience, combined with limited access to water for basic hygiene, sometimes led to health issues such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), affecting her and her classmates. Now, Katharina feels a significant change. "I never thought something as simple as water could make such a difference," she says. "Having water available everywhere—whether it's for hand washing, drinking, or even in the gardens—has made life so much easier. We're healthier, more focused in class, and our gardens are flourishing with the extra water!" Katharina has noticed a great improvement not only in her academic life but also in her overall well-being. With water available in the toilets, kitchen, outdoor taps, and gardens, she can now focus more on her studies and enjoy a better quality of life.