Is the water safe to drink? Fixing boreholes & monitoring water quality

Girls on bikes

 

We took in part in  borehole monitoring which involved surveying boreholes in the local area to asses whether they were functioning or not. We went out in teams to check the status of known boreholes and help repair them. This survey also allowed us the opportunity to monitor the quality of the borehole water.

Bryony at work with the field testing kit

Bryony at work with the field testing kit

Using a field kit the water was tested for faecal coliforms and in particular E.coli, with some very alarming results, with some water sources showing heavy E.coli contamination.

Work like this allows identification of contamination so that action can be taken which will  help to provide safe water to communities, as a single borehole can supply 100s of people (Bryony Down)

Celebration of the DASH to Malawi 2014 trip

The head of DASH, Ann Green, hosted an evening event at Square One in Coventry to showcase the experiences and activities of the pioneer group of 12 students who went to Malawi in 2014.

Tom and Kieron perform

Tom and Kieron perform

Group at celebration 2 compressed

 

Ann Green introduces our internationalisation trip to malawi

Ann Green introduces our internationalisation trip to Malawi

Students prepare to perform; Pat (organiser) is amused; Ann (head of DASH) looks worried

Students prepare to perform; Pat (organiser) is amused; Ann (Head of DASH) looks worried

 

Liz performs

Liz performs

Audience 2 compressed

Malawi Visit 2014 – Videos

The first work experience trip (August/September 2014)  was to the central African country of Malawi where students stayed in two rural lodges, one on the shores of Lake Malawi.

Malawi Visit 2014 – What will Students be doing?

Malawi Visit 2014 – Toys for the Local Children

Malawi Visit 2014 – Dietetics students interested in Diet & Nutrition

 

Malawi Visit 2014 – What Can You Do?

 

Teaching at a nursery in a village on Lake Malawi

This nursery teaches 157 children under five.

During our stay at Nanchengwa lodge at Lake Malawi we visited Mdalacikowa Nursery where we all donated some toys as they had nothing before we arrived. The children’s smiles lit up the room when we gave them each a toy to play with. We spent two mornings playing with the children, this was a lovely experience and really good fun. They sang twinkle twinkle little star to us in English and they loved playing clapping games. Beth Doda

 Bryony with excited young children at the nursery

Bryony with excited young children at the nursery

Making mud bricks

We went to help a village high up in the mountainous region, too far and treacherous for any vehicle to enter carrying building supplies such as bricks. We arrived to be engulfed by a large group of the children, as was the case at most villages we worked at. We met a group of villagers who were making bricks from the water, mud and clay dust which was available from the ground itself. The process involved mixing water and mud together with hoes, then all of us jumping around in the mixture till it was a smooth dough like consistency. I definitely shouldn’t have worn jeans!  The mixture was then placed in casts and left to dry in the sun. As we started to get involved more and more villagers came out to help which showed a strong sense of community.  Sunny Nahal

Getting dirty making mud bricks to build a classroom

Getting dirty making mud bricks to build a classroom