On the early morning of October the 11th, six determined WOT members set out on a unique challenge: walking 40 km while carrying a complete drilling setup – and then drilling a well by hand. All this to raise funds for TADEH, a charity that teaches people to drill wells, as to sustainably supply safe drinking water.

The organization began weeks in advance and included raising awareness through every available channel: Whatsapp, email, social media, newspapers, and more. A GoFundMe campaign was also set up to raise funds, and many companies contacted for sponsorships.

The walk was a great success! Heavily packed our team crossed the finish line after just over 10 hours, where they were greeted by a vast group of friends, family and other supporters. Soon after, the drilling begun. A settling pit was dug, barasol mixed, and a drilling stem prepared. The soil turned out to be soft, and before long the second and third drilling rod were added. With more stems, the work became heavier and heavier. Finally the 6th and last pipe was in place. Working in pairs now, the stem was lifted, dropped and turned gain and again… until eventually, it was all the way in.

Then all pipes were removed, and a plastic casing inserted into the freshly drilled borehole. Using a simple marble pump, the water could then be extracted from the well. What an achievement!

The event raised 5580 euros in funds for TADEH, which will be used to train people in Zambia to drill their own wells. This way, we hope to have helped bring safe drinking water to many communities.