- Environmental Conservation ·
Help Us Provide Access to Clean Water in Zimbabwe
Help us transition African farming with the installation of Aquaponic systems that allow 100% crop success
- Africa
- hello@actionchange.org
Project Summary
Project Challenge
Project Solution
Impact
Reports
Project Summary
Many African countries rely heavily on agriculture as their source of income and in many cases, families often grow their own food due to lack of income/ access to shops. These pressures can be further amplified due to the fact that water is scarce in many African countries. Our answer to these issues are innovative farming solutions such as vermi-aquaponics, which allow for these critical areas to continue farming successfully even in times of extreme drought, as these systems use 10% of the amount of water that normal farming solutions require.
Project Challenge
Africa has experienced extreme drought over the last years, causing severe pressure on the agricultural industry and contributed to the loss of income and hunger. By providing innovative agricultural solutions which increase the yield produces and reduce resources required, Africa will be able to not only feed themselves but also become sustainable. The solutions have less impact on the planet and offer opportunities for education and skills development for the community.
As a result of climate change, which has a large negative effect on the agricultural industry. Agriculture is a core business in Africa which is not only a large income for export, but also for local and private consumption. Thus, without water much land is running dry, making it impossible to farm. Simultaneously, the rest of the world is advancing to innovative farming methods making Africa, yet again fall behind.
Project Solution
Innovative agricultural solutions use integrated organic farming systems that combine vermiculture, aquaponics and small livestock to provide higher yield with fewer resources. The system only needs 10% of the water normally used for gardening, making it possible to farm even during extreme drought. By developing this system at schools, teachers get the opportunity to use it as practical teaching material, feed their students or sell the crop produced to generate income and be self-sufficient.
Impact
By providing schools and institutions with solutions which provides a high yield of produce regardless of soil and rainfall, schools in Africa will no longer be reliant on outside support. This will reduce the need for funding to purchase school resources, and the support required for feeding programs. In addition, it will reduce the pressure on the planet as water will be recycled and the clean water can rather be used for drinking and sanitation.
Reports
Project Report | Jun 26, 2026
Small Hands, Big Buckets and a Plan to Change
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Since our last update we have been back on the ground in rural Zimbabwe, visiting the schools that your generosity keeps running, and we came home with a lot on our minds.
Here is something that has stayed with us. Every morning, before lessons begin, two children from each class are sent to the borehole. They carry five litre buckets and they pump, by hand, for around forty minutes, just to get enough water for the day. The water is safe, we have confirmed that. But the image of children doing that work, missing class to do it, when they should be sitting at a desk learning, is one we cannot shake. And it is the clearest possible picture of what this project is really about.
The schools we support feed nine thousand children every single day. That takes water, a lot of it, and right now that water comes through iron pumps and small hands and a lot of time that belongs in a classroom. We want to change that, and we have a clear plan for how.
Solar powered pumps replace the manual boreholes and give schools running water around the clock. Aquaponics systems, which use ninety percent less water than traditional growing methods, bring fresh greens and fish protein into meals that currently rely on dry nutrient packs. Poultry projects complete the picture, giving schools a source of consistent protein and eventually a surplus they can manage themselves. Together these three steps take a school from being entirely dependent on outside support to being very nearly self sufficient, and the cost to get a single school there is $4,900.
With thirty rural schools on our list we know this is a long road. But we are on it, and things are moving. There is real energy behind this project right now, with the team out in the community, knocking on doors, dreaming up events and finding new ways to bring people in. We are not sitting still and it feels good.
We are also really excited to be part of the GlobalGiving Bonus Day starting on the 15th of July. Over twenty four hours, every new donation of $100 or above will receive a proportionate share of a matching fund. If you are in a position to give again we would be so grateful, and if not, sharing our project with friends, family or colleagues during that window costs nothing and could make a real difference. In numbers we go further, always.
Thank you for being part of this. Nine thousand children ate today because of you. That is not a small thing.
Project Report | Mar 25, 2026
From Bucks to Bulbs: Our 3 Step Plan
By Clive Nyapokoto | Zimbabwe Lead
Manual School Borehole funded by UKAID
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We recently returned from visiting our schools in rural Zimbabwe, and we have a story to share that highlights both the incredible resilience of these communities and the massive opportunity we have to change their future.
The “Gym Class” Nobody Asked ForThirty years ago, humanitarian efforts installed manual boreholes across rural Zimbabwe. While these have been a lifeline, the reality today is grueling. To prepare the nutrient-rich meals that your donations provide to 9,000 children every single day, we need water.
Currently, two children from every class are sent to the borehole with 5-litre buckets. They pump non-stop for about 40 minutes just to get enough water for the day’s needs. It’s a workout they shouldn’t have to do. The good news? Our recent tests confirmed the water is safe even though it is brown. The bad news? It’s currently trapped behind manual labor and heavy iron pumps and children are being pulled out of their class to get 5 Litres of water. takes. around 40 minutes.
The Vision: A Sustainable SchoolWe have a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” We don’t just want to feed these children; we want the schools to be able to feed themselves. By combining solar power, aquaponics, and poultry, we can reduce a school’s monthly food bill by 97% and give them access to running water.
Here is our 3-Step Roadmap to Independence:
Step 1: Solar Power & Connectivity (£2,000 per school) We are replacing manual pumps with solar-powered systems. This provides constant running water to the school, ending the “bucket brigade” and freeing children to be in the classroom, not at the pump.
Step 2: Aquaponics Installation (£2,900 per school) Building on our last report, these systems use 90% less water than traditional gardens. They provide fresh, high-protein greens and fish to supplement the dry nutrient packs we currently serve.
Step 3: Poultry Projects The final piece of the puzzle to provide consistent protein and a surplus that schools can manage themselves.
We are currently managing a massive monthly food bill to ensure no child goes hungry and we have so heavily relying on large amounts of water. It is vital work, but it is a recurring cost. By investing in these three steps, we aren’t just buying a meal; we are buying a permanent solution.
£4,900 (Steps 1 and 2) transforms a school of 400 children from being 100% dependent on aid to being almost entirely self-sufficient.
Let’s Start TodayThis is a big job, and with 30 rural schools on our list, we know it won’t happen overnight. But we are starting now. Whether it’s £10 or £1,000, every cent goes toward that first solar panel or the first aquaponic tank.
Thank you for being the reason 9,000 children eat today, and the reason they will be sustainable tomorrow.
With hope and determination and thank you to everyone that has already donate to our water program! We’re making real impact
Many African countries rely heavily on agriculture as their source of income and in many cases, families often grow their own food due to lack of income/ access to shops. These pressures can be further amplified due to the fact that water is scarce in many African countries. Our answer to these issues are innovative farming solutions such as vermi-aquaponics, which allow for these critical areas to continue farming successfully even in times of extreme drought, as these systems use 10% of the amount of water that normal farming solutions require.
Africa has experienced extreme drought over the last years, causing severe pressure on the agricultural industry and contributed to the loss of income and hunger. By providing innovative agricultural solutions which increase the yield produces and reduce resources required, Africa will be able to not only feed themselves but also become sustainable. The solutions have less impact on the planet and offer opportunities for education and skills development for the community.
As a result of climate change, which has a large negative effect on the agricultural industry. Agriculture is a core business in Africa which is not only a large income for export, but also for local and private consumption. Thus, without water much land is running dry, making it impossible to farm. Simultaneously, the rest of the world is advancing to innovative farming methods making Africa, yet again fall behind.
Innovative agricultural solutions use integrated organic farming systems that combine vermiculture, aquaponics and small livestock to provide higher yield with fewer resources. The system only needs 10% of the water normally used for gardening, making it possible to farm even during extreme drought. By developing this system at schools, teachers get the opportunity to use it as practical teaching material, feed their students or sell the crop produced to generate income and be self-sufficient.
By providing schools and institutions with solutions which provides a high yield of produce regardless of soil and rainfall, schools in Africa will no longer be reliant on outside support. This will reduce the need for funding to purchase school resources, and the support required for feeding programs. In addition, it will reduce the pressure on the planet as water will be recycled and the clean water can rather be used for drinking and sanitation.
Project Report | Jun 26, 2026
Small Hands, Big Buckets and a Plan to Change
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Since our last update we have been back on the ground in rural Zimbabwe, visiting the schools that your generosity keeps running, and we came home with a lot on our minds.
Here is something that has stayed with us. Every morning, before lessons begin, two children from each class are sent to the borehole. They carry five litre buckets and they pump, by hand, for around forty minutes, just to get enough water for the day. The water is safe, we have confirmed that. But the image of children doing that work, missing class to do it, when they should be sitting at a desk learning, is one we cannot shake. And it is the clearest possible picture of what this project is really about.
The schools we support feed nine thousand children every single day. That takes water, a lot of it, and right now that water comes through iron pumps and small hands and a lot of time that belongs in a classroom. We want to change that, and we have a clear plan for how.
Solar powered pumps replace the manual boreholes and give schools running water around the clock. Aquaponics systems, which use ninety percent less water than traditional growing methods, bring fresh greens and fish protein into meals that currently rely on dry nutrient packs. Poultry projects complete the picture, giving schools a source of consistent protein and eventually a surplus they can manage themselves. Together these three steps take a school from being entirely dependent on outside support to being very nearly self sufficient, and the cost to get a single school there is $4,900.
With thirty rural schools on our list we know this is a long road. But we are on it, and things are moving. There is real energy behind this project right now, with the team out in the community, knocking on doors, dreaming up events and finding new ways to bring people in. We are not sitting still and it feels good.
We are also really excited to be part of the GlobalGiving Bonus Day starting on the 15th of July. Over twenty four hours, every new donation of $100 or above will receive a proportionate share of a matching fund. If you are in a position to give again we would be so grateful, and if not, sharing our project with friends, family or colleagues during that window costs nothing and could make a real difference. In numbers we go further, always.
Thank you for being part of this. Nine thousand children ate today because of you. That is not a small thing.
Project Report | Mar 25, 2026
From Bucks to Bulbs: Our 3 Step Plan
By Clive Nyapokoto | Zimbabwe Lead
Manual School Borehole funded by UKAID
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We recently returned from visiting our schools in rural Zimbabwe, and we have a story to share that highlights both the incredible resilience of these communities and the massive opportunity we have to change their future.
The “Gym Class” Nobody Asked ForThirty years ago, humanitarian efforts installed manual boreholes across rural Zimbabwe. While these have been a lifeline, the reality today is grueling. To prepare the nutrient-rich meals that your donations provide to 9,000 children every single day, we need water.
Currently, two children from every class are sent to the borehole with 5-litre buckets. They pump non-stop for about 40 minutes just to get enough water for the day’s needs. It’s a workout they shouldn’t have to do. The good news? Our recent tests confirmed the water is safe even though it is brown. The bad news? It’s currently trapped behind manual labor and heavy iron pumps and children are being pulled out of their class to get 5 Litres of water. takes. around 40 minutes.
The Vision: A Sustainable SchoolWe have a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.” We don’t just want to feed these children; we want the schools to be able to feed themselves. By combining solar power, aquaponics, and poultry, we can reduce a school’s monthly food bill by 97% and give them access to running water.
Here is our 3-Step Roadmap to Independence:
Step 1: Solar Power & Connectivity (£2,000 per school) We are replacing manual pumps with solar-powered systems. This provides constant running water to the school, ending the “bucket brigade” and freeing children to be in the classroom, not at the pump.
Step 2: Aquaponics Installation (£2,900 per school) Building on our last report, these systems use 90% less water than traditional gardens. They provide fresh, high-protein greens and fish to supplement the dry nutrient packs we currently serve.
Step 3: Poultry Projects The final piece of the puzzle to provide consistent protein and a surplus that schools can manage themselves.
We are currently managing a massive monthly food bill to ensure no child goes hungry and we have so heavily relying on large amounts of water. It is vital work, but it is a recurring cost. By investing in these three steps, we aren’t just buying a meal; we are buying a permanent solution.
£4,900 (Steps 1 and 2) transforms a school of 400 children from being 100% dependent on aid to being almost entirely self-sufficient.
Let’s Start TodayThis is a big job, and with 30 rural schools on our list, we know it won’t happen overnight. But we are starting now. Whether it’s £10 or £1,000, every cent goes toward that first solar panel or the first aquaponic tank.
Thank you for being the reason 9,000 children eat today, and the reason they will be sustainable tomorrow.
With hope and determination and thank you to everyone that has already donate to our water program! We’re making real impact
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