Where’s The Water?
Jojo Tanks for ECD Centres
American Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography: “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” Ratepayers across Ethekwini pay their dues but, for several years, have been expressing their dissatisfaction over the erratic supply of the elixir of life. Section 27 of the Constitution guarantees the right to water…hollow words as water availability deteriorates and demand escalates. If the inconvenience of dry taps is felt in the more affluent areas of the city, the situation is far more acute in Ethekwini’s underserved communities. The UN’s World Water Day on 22nd of March underlines the tough reality that 2.2 billion people across the planet live without access to safe water and many of those live in our own city.
Every day, owners of township early childhood development centres face the challenge of an inadequate and erratic water supply to cater for the needs of their small charges: multiple bathroom visits: cooking midday meals: swabbing the whole place down after the last pre-schooler leaves.
The Domino Foundation’s ECD programme partners with 80 centres catering for almost 4000 babies to 6-year olds.
Thembelihle Mkhwanazi, the programme’s leader, commented that Domino works with the crèche owners to equip them to become successful small-scale entrepreneurs with businesses offering quality education. “That includes providing an environment which is clean and sanitary in every respect.” She went on to say that an important part of Domino’s vision is to see the ECD centres on its three-year programme equipped to cope with the demand for clean water. “With so many little people in the centres, when the taps gurgle and stop delivering, the staff have a mini nightmare on their hands.”
Themebelihle explained that Domino would like to see a Jo-jo tank installed at each of the ECD centres. “We might have to start with just one, and then another until it becomes the norm that every parent sending their little one off to school has peace of mind that their child will be in an environment where the water is clean and safe.”
The Domino Foundation is looking for partners to work with them to see this vision become a reality. She can be contacted at ecd@domino.org.za.
