Page 15 - UICT Report 2023
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Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Initiatives
UICT-KZN is one facet of an international organisation that plans and implements vital humanitarian work around the globe. This work ranges from disaster relief to Qurbani and feeding schemes and healthcare programmes.
UICT HOLISTIC EDUCATION CENTRES
‘Ab-i Hayat’ (Water for Life)
Water is one of the most important resources on the planet. Without water, life cannot exist. Yet 86% of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to clean water.
Water is vital to our health – it helps us maintain our body temperature, circulate oxygen and digest our food. It is also crucial to planetary health, the well-being of plants and animals, and is crucial to many facets of life on earth – from industry to agriculture and sanitation, the climate and the environment. We can live without food for a week, but we cannot survive for more than a few days without water.
In Sub-Saharan Africa especially, thousands of people are migrating from the villages that they were born and raised, in search of water. In villages where boreholes are found, humans and many other creatures benefit from the clean water. The water from the wells improves the quality of every aspect of life, from health to farming and food security.
Considering this vast need for clean water in certain parts of Africa, UICT has done research into the arid countries and regions that are in most need of access to clean water and has initiated a number of Borehole Projects under the ‘Ab-i Hayat’ (Water for Life) theme, which will give people access to this most basic necessity of life. Borehole projects have been implemented in counties like Niger, Mali, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, and Uganda. These projects are saving lives.
Constructing Boreholes in Africa
Before our expert teams build boreholes in a potential arid region of Africa, they analyse the water and its depth below the ground. Following this, in Caisson wells, they dig in 1.5m diameter, 20-40 m deep until the water vein is found while the walls of the well are sealed with concrete.
Help us spread hope with the gift of water.
In areas where the water is deeper down, the well is constructed through a boring method. When the required water level is found, water pipes are lowered, a suitable piping system and pump are installed. On the top of the well, the walls are sealed with concrete to make it more durable.
How much does it cost to construct a Borehole in Africa?
The cost of building a well varies depending upon the country, region, depth of the water and the methods used to build it. With experience of more than 10 years in the field, UICT and its expert team have done preliminary research and worked out the cost of building a well in Africa – approximately 3000 USD minimum.
Water is a blessing which every living creature has depended on since the world’s creation.
Contribute to this cause and play your part in making sure the borehole project reaches more communities across the continent.
ANNUAL REVIEW 2022
13