Impact
Improving health and vitality while restoring the area’s vibrant ecosystem
Implementation of the Dream Village project began with 60 of the most vulnerable families in spring of 2021. Already we are seeing significant impact. The women are over joyed with ready access to water at their doorstep. Families are reporting improved hygiene and less illness. More children are regularly attending school. Some surprises have occurred such as families using excess water to build bricks to improve their homes.
Through interviews, surveys and photographs, we will follow the impact over the next several years. For now, see the quotes below from our beneficiaries!
Creating a model for others to follow
Go Organic Africa has developed a team of leaders from the first group of 60 beneficiaries to train an additional 50 families on how to build water harvesting systems. Ultimately, we plan to empower over 200 families in Buzaniro, making it a model for other villages to follow, showing that simple local solutions can create hope and transformation. As one village elder proudly stated, “We hope that the whole district will come here and learn from us.”
Meet our Beneficiaries
Peace, Dream Village Project Leader
“We had a problem with water. We would spend more than 2 hours going to fetch water and 2 hours home. All our children and women were dirty. When I heard an organization was going to help us get water, I couldn’t imagine it. I wanted to jump to the sky! It was a dream come true.
You can see the women and children are now all looking smart. Let us appreciate that! After all the water and gardens, Go Organic Africa got filters. Now we no longer have sickness. Even our immunity has increased and our bodies are stronger. If you get something, now you recover more quickly.
After the filters, Go Organic Africa got for us rabbits. And the rabbits are looking good. And we expect big numbers in the future. We are going to reach a time when we can give our children rabbit meat every day. So, we can forget about the days of taking meat only on Christmas, New Years and Easter.
Thanks be to God, to Go Organic Africa, and to you! You did not know us, but you showed us generosity and we thank you.”
Jonah, Elder
“I used to go to Kinyamatembe to fetch water. I would reach there and be thinking, ‘How am I going to carry this jerry can home?’ When I would be at the very bottom of the steep climb, I would remember I had left the children at school and would think, ‘At what time will I be reaching home to prepare their lunch? Maybe I should leave the water to get home for them?’ Often, I was too late and I knew they were hungry. I would feel very sad.
When I heard the news that we were getting water, I was very happy, the happiest. I praised the Lord and asked, ‘Is it true? Is it going to be me who is getting water?’ Before the tanks, we would fetch water that was dirty. We would hear funny sounds in our stomachs. Gurgles from our bodies not liking the water. But now, with the filters, the water is so clean. It is so cool. When I take it, I feel peaceful and my whole body is happy.
Our children used to go to school when they were very dirty. Even they would miss school because of going to fetch water. Now our children are going to school. Our prayer is always to have our children get a good education.
Jereminah, Mother
“Thank you so much for the work you have done. We used to walk 2 hours to get water from the source and then another 2 hours to get back home. I used to be up at night thinking about water, the work, the time. Now I can sleep and wake up with the water near me in the tank.
I want to thank you for the vegetable gardens. We used to go to look for vegetables and couldn’t find them. Now we have them. We harvested the vegetables, and they were so delicious. But the strong sun came and many of the vegetables died. Now we are replanting the gardens in places with more shade. We hope to have more harvests and have good health.
We also want to thank you for the water filters. We used to have problems with flu, diarrhea, and headaches from taking the water. Since getting the filter, we haven’t had cases of illness in my home. Thank you also for the rabbits. I look forward to eating rabbit meat. Already I have ten young ones. Everything is so perfect, everything is so good.
Thank you so much. There is a lot I want to appreciate. I have seen a lot of change. I’ve started thanking you and don’t know where to end my thanks.”
Gerald, Small Business Owner
“Life was tough for me and my family. I have seven children and couldn’t afford to pay their school fees. One of them was even chased from school. But then I received a loan from the Savings Group and everything has changed. I used it to pay their fees, and then I started a small business brewing local beer. Now I have a steady income and can support my family.
Even my wife is now able to make more money because of our water tank. She sells porridge at the trading center nearby. Because she does not have to pay for water anymore, she can make more porridge and earns more profit. Her income is helping to pay the school fees as well.
Since receiving the water filter, we have not taken any of our children to the hospital. Our rabbits are doing well and will help us feed our children. Our youngest son was born the day the rabbits arrived so we like to call him ‘Rabbit’. It would be a dream come true if we could send our children to university.
Thank you Go Organic Africa for giving me hope and a chance to build a better future for my family.”
Christopher, Village Leader
“Go Organic Africa leaders Alex and Alphonse came to our trading center looking for me, the chairman of Buzaniro. They said they would help us access things we do not have. We explained that access to water was our greatest need. That to fetch water would take between 3 and 4 hours. They explained how we could build water harvesting tanks. Together, we identified 60 beneficiary households.
I looked Alex and Alphonse in the eye. They promised they would bring the building materials. But we didn’t believe they would do what they said. They told us the day they would be coming. My home is next to the road and we were all waiting. Only when we saw the truck come around that curve did we really believe they were coming.
When they brought the materials, we started building the tanks. We formed groups to work as teams. The tanks are now looking good, even my tank looks so smart. You can even go there and see it. They gave us the filters and taught us how to maintain them. We are now taking clean water.
Later they gave us rabbits and they have started producing. We have delicious vegetables. Everything is going perfectly well. I want to thank you for everything you have done for Buzaniro.”
