Caring Simon relishes Malawi opportunity
A Stevenage grocery manager is preparing for a dream trip to Africa to play a hands-on role in improving the lives of villagers.
Simon Durent, aged 33, is part of a four-strong team of Asda colleagues that will travel to Malawi next month to support the pioneering work of ethical water brand Thirsty Planet and its charity partner, Pump Aid.
Millions of people in Malawi don’t have access to clean water, and many have to walk huge distances several times a day to collect water from unprotected wells, putting themselves and others at risk of disease. But Simon and co will aim to change that by helping Pump Aid officials to build a water pump in a village – giving the community its first supply of clean, safe water.
Simon qualified for the trip because the store where he used to work, in High Wycombe, was one of the four top-sellers of Thirsty Planet in the country during a promotional period. Although he now works closer to home at Asda Stevenage, his efforts for his former store are being rewarded.
“I can’t wait to get out there and see what it’s all about,” said Simon, who flies to Malawi on 2 May. “I’ve never visited Arica or done anything like this before, and I’m really looking forward to getting my hands dirty and building something that will have a huge impact on peoples’ lives.
“I’ve long admired what Thirsty Planet is helping to achieve with Pump Aid. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what is actually done at ground level – and to experience what it means in real life.”
Thirsty Planet provides people in Africa with clean water for life by making a guaranteed, specified donation to Pump Aid for every bottle sold. This mechanic has already helped to supply clean water for life to more than 800,000 people in Africa, and sales of the bottled water are currently funding a new water pump every six hours on average.
The pump Simon will build is based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese design and costs just £250 to build. Many of the components are made by the community using easy-to-find materials such as plant fibres, so once in place it is entirely self-sustainable.
Paul Martin, managing director of Thirsty Planet’s parent company Waterbrands, said: “The pumps make a huge difference because without them villagers have to walk miles to the nearest water source several times a day – and even then, the water may be dirty or contaminated.
“Our aim is to supply clean water to 10 million people in Africa by 2015, and thanks to the hard work of people like Simon, we’re well on the way to reaching that target.”