In Thimbukushu, Meyu means “the water”. A vital and rare element in the north of Namibia, depending on the season.
It is not only the case that the residents of the Kavango sometimes must walk for miles and hours to the water – no, the river also brings dangers.
On the one hand, the water directly from the river is contaminated with germs, which leads to severe diarrhea and infections in humans. This is a major problem for children in particular, as their mostly malnourished and dehydrated bodies are not able to cope with this burden. On the other hand, there is a danger from the wild animals by being on the river. While women are attacked more by crocodiles and often fatally injured while fetching water for the family or cleaning laundry, men are attacked more by hippos (nil horses) while fishing.
With the project “Meyu” we help on the one hand with health promotion, on the other hand, we try to promote and support the villagers through the work hand in hand on the social level.
The Meyu Project also focuses on “helping people to help themselves”. We work as project planners and coordinators. However, the work is carried out hand in hand by the villagers. Together with the people in charge of the village, we plan to install the water pipes. The villagers then together shovel the necessary path for the pipes from the river to the village, which is hard work on the dry, hard ground. If the path is cleared according to exact specifications, we all lay the pipes together from the Namibian water supply to the village.
It is a real pleasure to see the villagers opening their water connections with a feast. It is desirable that we can establish the “Meyu” project in the region in the north of Namibia and thus help to improve the quality of life.
