Press Release from RIBI

February 2004

Rotarians on fact finding mission to Malawi

The daily struggle to find safe drinking water in Malawi has been seen first-hand by Rotarians Ian Black and Neil Rorie.

Ian and Neil, who have voluntarily fundraised for WaterAid for many years, have just returned from their visit to Malawi for two weeks with WaterAid. With crumbling water infrastructure and widespread disease, Malawi is a long way from home in Hedgerley, Bucks for Ian and Fleet, Hampshire for Neil.

During their trip to troubled Malawi, they spent a day living the life of a family in Longwe village, in Salima. People there live without any safe drinking water or basic sanitation facilities. Ian and Neil also visited extremely deprived rural villages and saw WaterAid’s projects in action.

Ian and Neil have been supporting WaterAid for many years, organising events, raising funds and raising awareness. Before they left the UK, they gathered messages from friends, colleagues and local residents on two buckets, which were presented to villagers in Malawi.

Ian said: “During my visit I spent time living in a village without any safe water supplies. It was a real shock. I just didn’t realise that people in the world today are still living as they did in biblical times. It seems absurd that we’re putting paraphernalia on Mars when we can’t even provide life’s basic needs of water here on Earth.”

“We are so lucky in the Western World to receive fresh, clean water on a reliable basis. I feel it is our duty to help WaterAid establish the safe water and sanitation that we take for granted. I feel deeply motivated now to continue to raise awareness of these issues – and their solutions - in the UK.”

Women and children in Malawi walk up to 20km a day to collect water from rivers and muddy holes. It is back-breaking work and the water often brings disease to their families. In the time it takes you to boil an egg a dozen children have died.

Neil says: “The problems can sound daunting, but we can all do something to help. It costs less than £15 to provide someone with a lasting supply of water and sanitation. Currently, water companies are sending out WaterAid appeal leaflets in the water bills. I do hope that people will be able to respond."

WaterAid opened a programme in Malawi to start a rehabilitation of the water supplies in November 1999. A wide range of projects is now underway all over the country. Ian and Neil saw first-hand how their fundraising is having a direct impact on people’s health, well-being and quality of life.
Ian is a member of the Rotary Club of Burnham and Neil is a member of the Rotary Club of Fleet.

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Notes to Editors:
For further information on Rotary or to arrange an interview, please contact Judith Diment on 01628 672965 or 07860 162313 or judithdiment@aol.com

For further information about WaterAid contact Lisa Martin at WaterAid on 020 7793 4524 or at lisamartin@wateraid.org.