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Supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

According to the World Health Organisation: 1 in 4 – or 2.1 billion people globally do not have access to safely managed drinking water.

Save Lives with Clean Water

Summary of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme estimates for Zambia (2023–2024):

  • 13% of healthcare facilities lack any water service
  • 21% of schools lack basic water access
  • 17% of schools lack basic sanitation
  • 27% of households lack basic water access
  • Among the poorest quintile, 60% of households lack access to a basic water service
  • 63% of households lack basic sanitation
  • 82% of households lack basic hygiene facilities

In most rural areas people depend on bacteria-infected streams and rivers where there are crocodiles and contaminated shallow wells, to obtain water.

World map showing the share of each country's population without a basic drinking water service in 2024, with Zambia outlined: 42% of rural people lack basic drinking water

Who still lacks basic drinking water? Share of each country’s population without a basic drinking water service, 2024. Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), 2025 update.

See How We Have Benefited Education So Far

What can you do to help bring clean water?

You can donate towards a borehole for a school or community, which will last for a minimum of ten years.

What our charity is doing to help bring clean water:

Children using the hand pump at the new Siamasunse School borehole

Our work is supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

Our aim is to provide safe, clean water to outreach communities in Zambia; ensuring that schools have close access to clean water for drinking and food production for sustainable feeding programmes.

  • Installed 62 boreholes in schools in the Kazungula and Kalomo Districts.
  • Installed 56 boreholes for communities, women’s and young people with disabilities projects.
  • Installed 10 boreholes for health posts and centres.
  • Added 14 solar powered water reticulation systems, storage water tanks, pipework and taps.
  • Over 60,000 children and vulnerable people now have access to safe clean water.

As of October 2026, we have installed the following boreholes:

Bbombe Lyangoma, Bunsanga, Busilibi, Chilaba, Chilebe (2), Chuunga, Gombe, James Siatchema, Kamusiku, Kamwi, Kanono, Kasusu, Katapazi, Katubya, Kauwe, Kazungula Boarding, Libala, Luuwe, Mabwa, Maila Male, Makuya, Malima, Malimba, Malombe (2), Manono, Mapepe, Masuma Muyumu, Mayala, Mayoba, Mubiana, Mubuyu, Muchambila, Mukuni Basic, Mukuni Secondary, Mutondo, Muule, Muyunda (2), Mwanga, Nakatele, Nakawa, Nampuyani, N’gandu, Nguba Primary, Nguba Secondary, Njezyi, Nziso, Riverview, Service Centre, Shamba, Siachakuba, Siamasimbi, Siamasunse, Siamuya, Sianjangulu, Sibbulo, Simabaula, Simukombo, Simukumbwa and Sinsimuku.

Boombwe, Bunsanga, Katanda, Katondo, Mabwa, Mahalulu, Maile Male, Ndele, Sichimbwali and Simonga.

Chikwama (2), Chise, Chuunga, Dudu, Hamoomba, Kafekwa, Kamwi, Kapalangu, Kasiya (2), Luzila, Mabwa Atuba, Majula, Malongalonga, Mayala, Milangu, Mubuyu, Muchindu, Mukalahani, Mukamba (2), Mukuni (3), Mulindi, Musala, Musokotwane, Muuba, Muumba, Nampaka, Namyola, Senkobo (3), Sheleni, Siamate, Siamundia, Siamunya, Siamwiya, Siapenga, Siazibola, Sibalwa, Simapunga, Simukombo and Zalu.

Kanchele, Musokotwane, Muyunda Beekeeping, Sekute, Sekute Central, Senkobo Mango, Siambelele, Zalu and Zwanga.

Kamwi.

Solar-powered water tank on a raised stand at the Sekute Women’s Project

Sanitation and Hygiene

An estimated 13.4 million people in Zambia, 63% of the population, do not have adequate sanitation.

Poor sanitation can lead to communicable diarrhoeal diseases and other health related problems. Where there is no sanitation communities have to use the bushes and streams, the latter are also used for drawing drinking water. The Butterfly Tree has donated over 150 pit-latrines to schools and health posts.

The lack of hygiene causes a number of health issues, most especially diarrhoea in all age groups, which can be fatal in infants. The Environmental Health Technicians communities educate the communities on the importance of hygiene when handling food, collecting water, after using a latrine and during sickness. Mothers are encouraged to attend anti and post-natal clinics where they are given information on hygiene.

For menstruating girls, life is difficult especially in rural areas, as they cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. Many resort to using torn rags and when they get to school there is no soap or toilet paper. As a result, there is a great deal of absenteeism during their monthly cycle.

New blue and red painted toilet block with metal gates at Musokotwane Secondary School, 2025
Two new white toilet blocks with brick fronts at Simukumbwa Community School, 2025

New toilet blocks at Musokotwane Secondary School and Simukumbwa Community School, 2025.