Added 17/01/2012
Cheshire Scouts have helped bring fresh drinking water to one
of the poorest regions of Africa.
The Scouts have formed a partnership with Cheshire-based
charity, Lubwe (Zambia) Fund, to raise money to provide wells for
clean water.
At the county's international camp, Chamboree 2010, more than
3,000 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers took part in a series of
activities aimed at raising awareness on global issues including
the need for more clean water supplies.
Every bottle of water sold at the camp saw a donation made to
the fund, and groups including 6th Wilmslow,
1st Congleton, and 1st Sutton have continued
fundraising since the camp. One group, 1st Davenham, has
raised £1,000 - enough to dig a well of their own. In
total, some £3,500 has been raised.
Now the first two wells have been dug in the rural communities
of Chabu Chifulu and Nshimba, each one providing clean water for
around a thousand people. Provision has been made to provide local
maintenance and water testing for the lifetime of the wells.
The donations have been acknowledged through plaques on the
wells themselves.
"We are extremely pleased to see that our efforts have resulted
in two life-saving wells being dug which will provide vital water
supplies for people most in need," said Deputy County Commissioner
Dave Hopley who co-ordinated the Cheshire Scouts' effort through
Chamboree.
As part of the 2012 Cheshire Challenge you could consider
raising awareness of the clean water issue, and contributing to
more wells from "Scouts in Cheshire".