Malawi: The Constituency Development Fund has helped the Chaulandi Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Malanda in Nkhata Bay improve education opportunities in the community. The CDF has helped in securing connection of a water supply pipeline to the school.
The funds have helped significantly in stabilising learning within the communities. After the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) project, learners do not walk long distances searching for water.
The Head teacher for Chaulandi Primary School Enock Mgawa applauded the government for the CDF. Mgawa said before the water supply project there was chaos at the school as during break.
Teachers were wasting time waiting for leaners to return from a nearby river where they were searching for water.
“This is the first time to have tap water at this school. Leaners were spending more time scrambling for water with community members at the borehole which is very far and on and off.” Said the headteacher.
“Other leaners walk a distance of over a kilometre at the river to find water to drink but that is permanently handled with the coming of this piped water,” Mgawa said.
Head teacher Mgawa said the project has not only increased access to clean water but also improved school attendance. He therefore commended the government for revising CDF allocation and bringing more funds to the project.
The project has given room to the lawmakers to reach out to many communities with impactful projects.
Annie Chirwa, a standard seven learner at the school expressed optimism that connecting tap water will help them focus on class hence improved performance.
“The tap water has provided security to a girl child as we were exposed to a lot of danger on our way to the river in search for water,” Chirwa said.
Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay South East Constituency, Noah Chimpeni also delivered brief address at the completion of the project. He promised that he will continue giving out demand driven projects to people through the CDF.
“I am thrilled to see leaners having access to portable water through this project. This is a significant milestone.
“Plans are underway to expand it to other institutions as clean water is essential for health, education and overall wellbeing and I am proud to be part of this initiative of making a difference in the lives of young people,” said Chimpeni.
Nkhata Bay District Commissioner Rodgers Newa said that he was impressed to see that many of the leaders are prudently using the CDF money.