DAPP Child Aid project transforming lives
Development Aid from people to People (DAPP) is a nonprofit organization which is working hand in hand with the Government of Malawi as well as local and international organizations in implementing social and economic development activities in Education, Agriculture, Health, Community Development and Fundraising through the sale of second hand clothing in order to improve the lives of local Malawians.
With this in mind, DAPP Malawi using its Social Development Fund (SDF) component introduced a one year Child Aid project in Machinga district in November 2017 with the aim of improving good sanitation and hygiene practices at household level.
The project implemented in Traditional Authority Chamba in group village headman Mapata, Mitawa and Puteya, reached 581 families and a total of 2,240 beneficiaries in its one year implementation period.
Through the project, beneficiary with the guidance of project unit leaders (PUL) managed to construct pit latrines with drop hole covers, Tippy taps which are a hand washing mechanism, rubbish pits and firewood saving stoves as well as encouraging children to go to school and community members to establish vegetable gardens to ensure they are eating balanced meals. With the increase in sanitary facilities, the implementation catchment area recorded Cholera and Diarrhea cases.
Mr Paul Mponya who was the PUL in the area said “the project was truly a success but it also faced some challenges. For instance, some of the households found it difficult to find bottles for the construction of the tippy taps while some found it a challenge to mold bricks for the construction of toilets” he said . Having met these problems, Mr Mponya encouraged the community members to join Village Saving Loan Groups in order for them to save money and make things happen.
“From conversations I have had with the beneficiaries, the most important aspect of the project has been the pit latrines and tippy taps as the majority say these have helped to reduce diseases like cholera and diarrhea in the area” Mr Mponya said
Traditional Authority Chamba was declared Open defecation Free before the project phased out in December 2018
