Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (BCI) and ChildFund Mozambique on Tuesday inaugurated a water borehole at Cale 2 – Mutxaiane Primary School, located in the Administrative Post of Iapala, Ribáuè district, Nampula province, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions for local communities.

The new infrastructure is the result of the implementation of the project ‘A Local School with Drinking Water’, according to a press release from the bank. It represents a significant milestone for the school community and surrounding populations, who now have access to a safe source of drinking water, contributing to improvements in hygiene, health, well-being, and the teaching and learning environment.

The borehole will directly benefit students attending the institution, as well as teachers and other school staff, while also extending its impact to residents in the surrounding areas.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by district and local authorities, community leaders, representatives of the partner institutions, members of the school community, and residents from the areas covered by the initiative.

At the event, BCI’s representative, José Notiço, Deputy Central Director, highlighted the project’s transformative reach. ‘This borehole represents more than water. It represents health, well-being, hope, and an opportunity for every child to dedicate more time to their studies and their future,’ he said. Addressing the community directly, Notiço called for responsible use of the infrastructure: ‘Take care of this borehole. Water is a precious resource. If everyone helps to protect it, it can serve this school for many years to come.’

The administrator of Ribáuè district, Daniel Joaquim Magaia, thanked BCI and ChildFund Mozambique for the support provided to the community, underscoring the positive impact the new borehole will have on the lives of local residents. Magaia urged the community to preserve and maintain the infrastructure in order to ensure its long-term sustainability, and encouraged the partners to continue expanding similar initiatives to other areas still affected by water scarcity. Addressing parents and guardians present at the ceremony, he called on them to ensure children remain in school and to join efforts to combat early marriage, advocating education as a fundamental pillar for the development of families and communities.

With this initiative, BCI and ChildFund Mozambique reaffirm their commitment to promoting sustainable solutions that contribute to community development. For the bank, investing in access to clean drinking water is an investment in human dignity, children’s education, and the building of a healthier, more inclusive, and more prosperous future for Mozambique.

More than a piece of infrastructure, the borehole is described as a source of opportunity — symbolising hope and a concrete step towards a better future for hundreds of children and families in Ribáuè.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=556473