Turning on the Taps Helps Raise the Voices and Hopes of Malawi Choir

Singers of the MatamandoChoir in Malawi are raising their voices and their numbers now many people from the community have clean water after support from WaterAid, helping them to spread the word of God and raise money. 

The inspirational choir started attracting more members when the international organisation started working with the community in Chinganji to install clean water taps.​

Prior to this, children would spend hours walking long distances to collect water from unsafe sources like wells, leaving little time for their education or doing things they enjoyed like joining the choir.  

Their songs are designed to inspire change in the community through worship.​ They are also using performances to raise money to fix the church roof, showing the ripple effect of clean water. 

However, less than half of the children in the area have clean water at home and so many are unable to join the choir. Through the ‘Where there’s water’ winter appeal, WaterAid will help more families get clean water so more children have the time to learn, play and sing.  

Merifa, 15 and a member of the choir, used to spend hours every day collecting water from another village miles away. With clean water close to home, she can now bathe more regularly, study at school, attend her beloved choir, and has also set up a business with her sister making samosas to sell, helping provide an income for her family. 

Merifa said:  

Because we know that the water is near our home, we can go draw water and still have enough time to make our samosas and also go for choir practice. We go to choir practice three days a week. We really love it and we learn a lot.

Merifa’s best friend Rachel lives in a neighbouring village and goes to the same school where the two are inseparable. However, she is unable to attend the choir with her friend because her time is spent walking for water and ensuring her family have enough for drinking, washing and to survive. 

Roderick, the choir master, songwriter, and inspiration to many in the village, also lacks essential clean water at home.   

Roderick, the choir master, said:  

When you are singing, you need water; when you are sick, you need water. Water is very important.

The songs he has written Ambue Kozeni, which translates to “Lord Fix Me” and calls on Jesus to help them see his greatness. Another song is called Ndalimbana Nako, which translates to “I’ve struggled with” and expresses gratitude to God for blessings like family, talent, and overcoming difficult times. 

Originally a children’s choir, many of its members have grown up within it, leading to a diverse mix of both children and adults. 

Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive, WaterAid, said:  

The inspiring story of the Matamando choir really highlights the powerful ripple effect created by getting clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. 

For children in Chinganji, turning on the taps has meant more time to spend in school and doing activities they enjoy, as well as having the chance to earn money to support their families. Almost one in ten people worldwide still don’t have access to clean water, depriving them of an equal chance to lead a healthy life, to get an education or to earn a steady income.  

By supporting WaterAid’s ‘Where there’s water’ appeal, you can help more families get clean water, changing lives for good and building the foundations for a better future. Where there’s water, there’s health, joy, childhood, possibility; where there’s water, there’s a way.

To help turn on the taps in Chinganji and in communities around the world, support ‘Where there’s water’ at wateraid.org.