Imagine how your day would work without access to clean water. Ignore any other stresses for a moment, just focus on what that would mean, truly, for the progress of your day. It's hard to imagine isn't it! Almost everything you do in your day requires water! Clean water.

My last rental property was pitched to me by the Real Estate Agent as an old and beautiful heritage building, with natural fire places, wooden floors and antique fittings. Full of charm they said. In reality of course it was cold, smelt faintly but permanently of cats and had an ancient copper system that resulted in frequent cold showers even in the dead of winter.

My housemate and I endured the cold showers, they were hideous, but the water was clean.

Imagine again your average day. Imagine the water you fetch for your bathing, for your drinking, to brush your teeth, to wash the utensils you use to feed your families, to give to your children when they are unwell. Imagine this water is not only cold but will make you all very very sick.

Imagine you then take your very sick children to the nearest clinic in desparate need of treatment, only to find they have just as little access to clean water as you do...

This is a reality for the families I have recently visited with journalist Sandy Clark of Dignity Zambia, in the Western Province of Zambia. Small remote clinics such as the one we visited in Katava, (managed alone by Claire, see in picture) are treating patients and delivering babies, often in the dark with no access to clean water, emergency services and with only the most basic of equipment.

Dignity Zambia is a completely non for profit organisation run by Adelaide journalist and Author Sandy Clark. We are building a hospital with the support of Her Honour The Vice President of Zambia, in the Nalolo district. The hospital will provide women and children with much needed care.

To do this we must first sink a bore hole for access to fresh and clean water for the building process and for the hospital itself. This first step will cost approximately $5000 USD.

Sandy and Dignity Zambia is committed to contributing the remaining amount for this build but I ask for some help to get this project off the ground for her! Anthing we can raise above our target will further contribute to this first step. It all starts with WATER!

Dignity Zambia is completely non for profit, it is run by Sandy Clark with help from volunteers, there are no wages and no one is on the payroll. 100% of funds raised will be used to purchase the equipment necessary to sink a bore hole in the land chosen by Sandy and Her Honour The Vice President of Zambia, Mrs Inonge Wina. 

(Sandy and Her Honour the Vice President, surveying the hospital build site, 2015)

We have been advised on our recent trip by experts that the cost for drilling, pump instillation and equipment will be approximately $5000 USD. This is the overall amount we are budgeting for to ensure a quality bore pump that will be correctly installed and maintained. 

I have personally travelled with Sandy to Zambia and can attest to this phenomenal womans tenacity and determination to overcome any challenge placed in front of her. In rural Africa, challenges are many; power outages, malaria, water borne disease, lack of clean water... the biggest challenge for us as builders of this bore is time. Once we have raised the money we need for the equipment and instilation we have to act fast to ensure equipment and parts are not left for long periods of time unattended where they may be stolen or damaged.

Fortunately, as Sandy and I have personally visited the area and have made connections with a great team of workers, volunteers and builders as well as the individuals in charge of the surrounding districts, we have the ground team necessary to ensure this happens.

Recently Dignity Zambia raised the money to send an expert from Adelaide to survey the area and provide a report.