Playpumps International: Playground Equipment is Saving Lives in Africa

Playpumps International is one of the most innovative, clever solutions to providing sanitary drinking water that I have ever seen. It features an above-ground merry go round that children play on. The circular motion brings water up to an above-ground tank nearby. The four sides of the tank are used for advertising, with two sides for consumer billboards and the other two sides for health and educational messages. The money then goes to cover maintenance costs for the pump system.

The health benefits of clean drinking water are almost impossible to comprehend for someone living in the United States and taking water from the tap for granted (myself in particular). A recent U.N. report has found that unsafe water is the leading cause for illness worldwide, and that half of the people living in developing countries are suffering from diseases cause by unsafe drinking water. The other benefits include saving children and women from walking far distances and toting water back to their homes, freeing up time and alleviating physical exertion. Wateraid.org says that women and girls often walk up to ten miles a day to fetch water, carrying it back in cumbersome containers. I can only imagine how long that would take, and what women in communities with Playpumps could accomplish with their newfound time. Letters written in from communities with a Playpump system also say that they are now able to grow gardens and teach students hands-on learning about agriculture with the new source of water.

To date, Playpumps International has installed almost 900 systems in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia. These systems provide safe water to an estimated two million people. Their expansion goals for the future include providing systems in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. Playpumps International is a NGO registered in South Africa as well as a sister 501(c) 3 organization in the U.S.

The Playpumps International website lists mentions about the company by National Geographic Radio, NBC Nightly News, PBS Frontline, and the Chicago Art Museum, yet I had never heard about it until a family friend mentioned seeing it advertised online. I am in awe of this creative, practical, financially feasible solution for healthy water. I wrote this article to spread the good news, and try to spread awareness about this admirable organization. If you can't afford to donate money and support their cause, just tell one person about what you've learned & donate publicity!

Sources Used

Playpumps International, "Playpumps International and the Playpump Water System. Kids Play. Water Pumps!", Playpumps.org.

Eliasson, Jan and Susan Blumenthal, "Dying for A Drink of Clean Water", The Washington Post.

Wateraid America, "Problems For Women", Wateraid.org.