Service without borders: clean water for 550 students

A solar powered water tank and borehole provides clean water for students at St. Ludger school in Zimbabwe.

By Dr. Mike Manga, Rotary Club of Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Through the combined efforts of two Rotary clubs — one in Nebraska, USA, and one in Zimbabwe — and the personal connections possible in Rotary, nearly 550 students and their teachers at a rural school in Marondera, Zimbabwe, now have access to a reliable supply of clean water, which also serves their families.

This is my story of Rotary connection. In mid-2025, a fellow Rotarian from Zimbabwe reached out to me for assistance with a community water project. As a native of Zimbabwe, I was already well acquainted with Veronica Chirombe, who I have known for years. She is an administrator at Peterhouse School, where my children attended before my family relocated to Lincoln. I have served on the school’s Board of Governors and still hold that position even after my move to the US.

When Veronica contacted me, she explained the urgent water needs facing St. Ludger School, located in a rural village in northeastern Zimbabwe. Her Rotary club had already raised nearly $3,000, but the total cost of the project was close to $8,000.

Fortunately, as a member of my club’s Global Engagements committee, I was able to submit a proposal requesting $5,000 in additional funding. The proposal was approved, enabling the project to move forward. The shared history and trust made our Rotary collaboration both natural and meaningful.

St. Ludger School had no reliable source of clean drinking water. Students were particularly vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as typhoid and dysentery, leading to frequent illness and missed school days — seriously affecting their ability to learn and thrive.

Through the combined efforts and funding of our two Rotary clubs, a borehole was successfully drilled, two water tanks were installed — one at the wellhead and another on school grounds — and piping was extended to both the school and the nearby village where teachers and their families reside.

 This project has done more than provide clean water. It has improved health outcomes, reduced disease, increased school attendance, strengthened educational access, and indirectly supported local economic activity. Above all, it stands as a powerful testament to the value of Rotary connections across continents and the shared commitment of Rotarians to act and make the world a better place.