Energy
January 2017
Jos, Nigeria

A solar powered well for the Amina Zwindila Foundation School in Nigeria

Clean water by means of solar energy

The Amina Zwindila Foundation School is situated on the Jos plateau - a very dry region in Nigeria where the effects of the climate change can be strongly felt. To ensure that the school has access to clean drinking water, the well had to be drilled 100 metres deep and is now operated using a solar pump.

Nigeria, a country with great potential yet greatly affected by economic and political problems

Nigeria is the world's eighth-largest oil supplier, has the greatest economic power in the entire continent and has an enormous amount of natural resources at its disposal. Moreover, the country spans over nearly one million square metres and has a great amount of fertile soil for feeding the nation's population.

In other words, the country has the ideal requirements to grant its approximately 200 million inhabitants a certain degree of affluence. But the reality is quite different. The majority of the population lives in poverty.

And after years of military dictatorship, the country is slowly transitioning into a democracy. Corruption is still an unsolved issue, ethical conflicts are halting the progress and the economy is at a standstill.

A deficit in the state budget is leading to a poor quality of education

As a result, money for the duties which the state should uphold is lacking. This is mostly felt by the poorer population as they are unable to compensate the state's lack of adequate provision, for example in education.

Public spending on education continuously decreases and attending public schools is no longer warranted. Remaining schools are badly equipped and the teachers are underpaid, which often leads to strikes.

Unlike many other countries, it is not a matter of course for the children in Nigeria to go to school.

 

Bildung ist nicht immer gesichert in Nigeria

Free access to education at the Amina Zwindila Foundation School

The native-born Nigerian Amina Zwindila didn't wish to accept this state of affairs and therefore decided to initiate a private school project, in order to grant poor children in need of protection access to an education.

For this reason, the Greenfinity Foundation decided to support the Amina Zwindila Foundation School in collaboration with the Child & Family Foundation.

Since January 2012, the Amina Zwindila Foundation School, which currently teaches 350 children, has been supported by the Child & Family Foundation.

Water is life

People from industrialised states consume between 100 and 200 litres of water per day. In contrast, an African only has 20 litres of water at his disposal. According to the UN, 50 litres of water per capita per day are necessary to prevent diseases and to remain healthy and productive.

Water comsumption around the globe

A school without running water?

The school is situated on the Jos plateau - a very dry region in Nigeria where the effects of the climate change can be strongly felt. Schools should be able to provide the children with access to clean drinking water, which the Amina Zwindila Foundation School lacked.

The school faced high expenditures for the purchase of water. Moreover, heavy canisters had to be hauled to the school to grant water for the school's daily operation (for drinking, cleaning and for sanitation facilities such as toilets and sinks, etc.).

In addition, there was a large amount of waste, as the students had to to bring plastic bags filled with water in order to quench their thirst.

Wasserprobleme in Nigeria
Wasserknappheit in Nigeria

Development aid for the construction of a solar well

The school's upkeep as well as the running costs are a great financial challenge. For this reason, the Greenfinity Foundation helped support the school by building a well.

 

The well was constructed on the school grounds and is being operated by a solar pump.

Entwicklungshilfe in Nigeria Solarbrunnen

As no fuel is needed for the generator's operation, costs which would have arisen through the use of a conventional pump could now be saved.

 

Due to the severe drought and the low-lying ground water level, the well must reach more than 100 metres into the ground.

Entwicklungshilfe durch Brunnenbau in Nigeria
Hilfe zur Selbsthile Wasserverkauf an der Amina Zwindila

Helping people help themselves

The well was constructed in such a way that it can produce more water than the school requires. The excess water can be sold cheaply to the community, which generates an additional income that benefits both the school and its students - this is an important step in establishing the school's independence.

 

Projekt Info
Project Goals
  • To secure the school's water supply
  • To avoid diseases caused by contaminated water
  • To preserve vegetation and biodiversity
  • To enable the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, etc.
  • Saving costs for the school and securing additional income by selling the clean water.
Projekt Location

Jos, Nigeria

Project period
November 2016 – February 2018; March 2021 – May 2021
Convenantee group

About 350 children from Jos and its surrounding regions