Rotary Okavango has raised P6 000 for the procurement of 50 hippo rollers for the Samedupi, Matsaudi, Ditshiping, Komana and Chanoga communities: all in an effort to improve access to portable water.
The networking group raised the funds through a Quiz Night session held in Maun last week.
Rotary Okavango along with several partners, namely Natural Selection Foundation, Rotary Club of Longmont, Rotary Club of Twin Peaks, Rotary Club of Boulder, and Rotary Club of Gaborone has so far distributed six hippo rollers in Khwai village which has proven to be helpful to beneficiaries.
A hippo roller is a 90-litre drum that can quickly be filled with water and transported to households as it allows users to transport water by simply rolling it on the ground.
In an interview, the organisation’s president, Amy McBride said after realising that the project plays an impactful role in improving the livelihoods of communities, they saw the need to expand it to other villages.
McBride noted that residents of Samedupi, Matsaudi, Ditshiping, Komana and Chanoga were identified following an engagement in which they lamented about challenges in accessing water.
She indicated that they introduced the project in Khwai in September last year after purchasing the hippo rollers with the extra funds they had. McBride is delighted about the outcome of the projects noting that the beneficiaries in Khwai are now able to grow their gardens and sell vegetables as they now have access to water.
McBride said they have observed that carrying buckets of water daily was burdening the beneficiaries to access adequate water.
Natural Selection community outreach officer, Sandra Rubins said after identifying the challenge of water accessibility in Khwai, they worked with the area social worker to help identify those who can be assisted through the project.
She stated that ever since the inception of the project in Khwai, beneficiaries are able to perform their household needs without hesitation. Rubins noted that the recipients have reported reduced time and greater ease in transporting water as well as the ability to grow gardens.
Rotary Okavango is one of Africa’s newest members of Rotary International, the world’s oldest and largest network of business, professional, political, and civic leaders united in friendship to do well in the world.
Rotarians work together to: promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education; grow local economies; and protect the environment.
Rotary Okavango was chartered on 13 May 2024 and is now the second largest of the 76 Rotary Clubs in District 9400, encompassing Botswana, Eswatini, northern South Africa, and southern Mozambique.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Okavango’s recent fundraising Quiz Night featured eight teams of six participants competing for bragging rights and prizes with questions asked covering Botswana history, sports, mathematics, Maun logos among others.
