More importantly, she houses 52 adults and children who make up several low-income families who sought accommodation on her land. Some are "lucky" enough to have jobs at nearby farms, but cannot afford food, even with their monthly wages.
Water is an essential ingredient in the daily survival of these individuals, and Mrs. Chichaya has always had a well on her land to supplement this need. Running water had been available in abundance in the neighborhood before the economic downturn in Zimbabwe but, under the tough economic circumstances of the last few years, it became an even more scarce necessity on this land.
Frequent power outages rendered the dream of running water just that, a dream. The well they could turn to had become harder to reach manually with bucket pulleys, since the water was far too deep because of previous droughts.
An electric pump powerful enough to draw the water from the well was very sorely needed, but was impossible for Mrs. Chichaya and these ordinary folks to afford, when all they were trying to do was feed their families at least once or twice a day at most.
Lifenets learnt of this need and provided not only an electric pump for the well, but also a reservoir tank to store water for the many dark days of power outages when the pump would not be functioning. These folks were thirsty, and LifeNets gave them something to drink. At least 53 people's lives have been improved. That means a lot to me because Mrs. Chichaya is my mother.