The water tank was installed on top of an old Presbyterian Mission residence

Antiocha Donors: ADDA and Christian Aid Cost: $20,000

      The small community of Antiocha sits on top of a plateau overlooking a broad and fertile valley. In a Western country, the view would attract expensive houses and high property prices. In Mozambique, that position instead creates many problems. For example, instead of being 10 meters down, the water table is much further. This means that obtaining water requires an expensive bore hole, which cannot be dug by hand, or a pump to get water from one of the shallower wells at the base of the plateau. A third option is to walk to the river several kilometers downhill, and then walk back up.
      The Presbyterian Church of Mozambique worked to fix the water problem. A water tower was placed on the top of an old building in the community, pipe was laid, and a solar powered pump was installed at the head of one of the shallower wells at the base of the hill. Filters were even provided to ensure that the water would be safe and clean.
      Unfortunately, not long after installation, the pump and solar cells were stolen from the site, making the whole project inoperable.
     The church is also working in Antiocha, and 4 other places in Gaza province, to improve adult literacy especially for women. The students are taught in their native languages for two years. After that, they are taught literacy in Portuguese. This is helping to empower the women of Gaza.

The well chosen for the project was one of the original ones dug by the first missionaries