Community upliftment is child's play

The playpumps project provides clean drinking water by installing wells - each powered by a merry-go-round - in playgrounds and primary schools. As the children spin the merry-go-round, water is pumped into a tank that carries health-related messages and commercial advertising. Playpumps are more efficient, easier to use and cheaper to run than wells with hand pumps.

The community project by NBL's Ciro Alliances was part of their 'Build an Oasis of Sustainability' initiative, which Ciro also used as a team-building exercise - everyone got involved in painting an old swing set, putting up fencing and creating a one-acre vegetable garden for the school. The team was able to strike water at 40 metres, which will support both the school and the vegetable garden.

Johan Grobbelaar, National Operations Manager of Ciro Alliances, commented, "This was probably the most rewarding team building exercise we have ever undertaken. This community project and team building exercise was an invaluable learning experience of what it takes to create a sustainable oasis."

Aside from infrastructure sponsorship, Roundabout Outdoor fits revenue-generating advertising billboards to each storage tank, making the projects self-sustaining. The income is used to train people in the community, maintain the water pump and service the site.

According to Mark Melman, a Director of Roundabout Outdoor, the marketing arm of Roundabout PlayPumps, "Our playpump system, due to its practical, economic, ecological and social viability, is a progressive and creative way to provide free fresh drinking water to rural communities. By providing clean drinking water, the playpump is a step forward in rural water development, as well as assisting in slowing down the spread of HIV/AIDS."

Ciro Alliances have committed themselves to the project and have formed a volunteer group that will visit the community on a six-weekly basis.

The education message, sponsored by NBL, is: 'Drink water - it will help keep your body healthy. Eat vegetables - they will help nourish your mind. Concentrate on your education - it is your key to a successful future', aims to instil a sense of health awareness in the children. Ciro Alliances chose to brand the billboard to highlight ownership and promote their 'oasis of sustainability'.

"This project forms part of the NBL's corporate social investment. We target projects that enrich the lives of others and result in a meaningful, solid contribution to the future of South Africa. NBL is exceptionally proud to be involved in this project, which will ultimately improve the quality of life for this community," said NBL Communications Manager Madeleine Simon.