Africa 6000 International Making a Giant, Thirst-Quenching Splash

Guinea, Africa

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The vision of Africa 6000 International’s founder, Joe Prischak, was about as selfless and simple as it gets. Quench the thirst of some of the thirstiest people on the planet with clean, life-saving water. And so that’s what he set out to do, and that’s what his non-profit organization continues to do today, some 18 years later.

To briefly summarize, Africa 6000 International is a non-profit organization that drills large-scale, solar-powered water wells in five African countries where water is scarce at best, and clean water is a luxury. Those countries are Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Guinea.

Africa 6000’s name is derived from the 6,000 children who were dying daily from waterborne disease when the organization began in 2007. Nearly three hundred water wells later, that number is now reduced between 2,000 and 3,000 children. “Even one child is way too many, but we’re getting there. What we’re doing is working”, says Africa 6000 Executive Director, Teresa Murtland.

Saving lives is key. Half of all hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from water-related illnesses. Almost 1 in 5 children die from these preventable waterborne diseases.

Using its own teams and fleet of drilling rigs, Africa 6000 International constructs long-term water sources that transform communities. These sustainable solar projects change the landscapes of entire village regions, making way for medical clinics, schools, businesses, gardens and irrigated farms.

Tanzania, Africa

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These clean water projects also eliminate long days of walking for women and children who are tasked with collecting the days water supply. A 15-kilometer daily walk to collect that water is not unusual, and still that water is laden with bacteria including feces from animals who use the same watering holes, streams and runoffs.

Africa 6000 has taken all these issues into account. Many of its solar-powered water projects include groundwater piping to connect villages, multiple distribution systems throughout those villages to eliminate long lines, and separate watering stations for animals like cows, sheep and even elephants.

In addition, by eliminating the long, dangerous, daily walks through the bush for water, children are now free to go to school. A world of new opportunities is now open to them.

Africa 6000 International’s projects are engineered for sustainability. An initial geological survey helps locate any obstacles that would impede the drilling process.  The drilling rigs are then engineered to go to a depth of 200 meters if necessary. Once a borehole is complete, community leaders are trained to take ownership and maintain these projects.

“The reward is certainly in visiting the village well post construction, and watching the women joyfully gather there in the morning to collect their clean water”, says Murtland. “They now have time for relationships. Their children are in school. Their family is no longer sick. It’s a beautiful process.”

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To learn more about Africa 6000 International or help “Make a Splash” in Africa’s water sector, visit africa6000intl.org.