Students save bucketload of lives

21 October 2009

COLLEGE students have drastically helped improve the lives of people in a war-torn country by sponsoring a water well.

Orpington College, in The Walnuts, High Street, Orpington, entered into a partnership with charity Pump Aid and Bromley-based firm AquAid water coolers.

The partnership scheme means that, for every four water coolers a school, college or business has, it earns the right to have a well installed in Zimbabwe with its name inscribed on it.

The well sponsored by Orpington's students will take around four months to construct in the Manicaland Province of the country, where villagers will be shown how to maintain it.

College spokesperson Liz Watson said: "We are delighted to be part of such a unique scheme. To think we are saving lives in another part of the world is quite staggering.

"We love the partnership idea, and want to encourage our students to think about the wider aspects of helping other people. Long may the relationship with AquAid and Pump Aid continue."

The scheme was the brainchild of Pump Aid boss Ian Thorpe, who designed the pump, based on ancient Chinese technology, after seeing children dying in schools when he visited on a gap year. So far, the scheme has helped more than two million people.

AquAid sales manager Linda McCarthy said: "We are privileged to be a part of this scheme. To improve the quality of life locally and globally is quite a tall order. However, in this small way, we are able to make a difference.

"We look forward to continuing our relationship with Orpington College for a long time to come