Protected Shallow Wells
Since 2006, FPC has partnered with Presbyterian USA Marian Medical Mission’s (MMM) Protected Shallow Well Program in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. This mission offers members and friends the opportunity to volunteer with MMM for four weeks each fall to help install shallow wells, to financially support the protected shallow well program or both.
FPC members have traveled to Malawi to participate in four-week mission trips as MMM volunteers working with Malawian guides to provide a clean drinking water that replace contaminated water sources that kill one in 5 children. These volunteers share the message that Christians in the USA have heard of their need for a clean and safe drinking water source and have donated the cost of the materials for this well.
A contaminated water source in Malawi, where the women must gather the water
A Marion Medical Mission protected shallow well installation is one that utilizes the talents of the Malawians. Each village recipient, under the supervision of a MMM field officer, provides the unskilled labor to make the bricks, dig the well, gather the sand and stone necessary to build the well. The steel pumps, the PVC foot valves and plungers are assembled also by Malawians.
Shallow Well Dedications
The key component of this system are the 20 Malawian field officers serving the MMM network and about 40 American volunteers that annually visit Malawi. These volunteers help to distribute the cement, the pipe and fittings for the manufacture of the pumps, the down hole parts and so on. The volunteers lead each well dedication, a celebration and share the message that this is a helping hand, not a hand out, along with instructions on proper well use and maintenance.
Malawian villagers celebrate a shallow well installation
Donations by FPC since 2007 through 2020, total over $100,000 and represent 300 installed protected shallow wells. FPC and friends continue to support this mission with annual donations, of which $450 cover the costs of each well. 100% of all donations go towards the installation of the protected shallow wells.