Bringing Water to Schools in Need
– “PlayPumps”

SOUTH AFRICA

Many schools in South Africa face a dire shortage of water, which impacts the health and attendance rates of students. In response to this situation, SC Africa has partnered with local NPO Roundabout Water Solutions to install PlayPumps at rural schools around South Africa.

What is a “PlayPump”?

A PlayPump is a piece of roundabout playground equipment that pumps groundwater to the surface as students play on it. In addition to providing water, a PlayPump may be the play equipment a school has, so its dual function makes the technology important for students’ overall health and wellbeing.

The PlayPump was originally invented by a South African farmer who sought an innovative way to help schools access water and as of now there are over 1000 PlayPumps around the country. The first ever PlayPump was installed in 1996 and is still in use over 20 years later.

Bringing the gift of Water

So far, Sumitomo Corporation Africa has funded the installation of PlayPumps at four schools in South Africa who have been struggling without water for many years.

We have received heartfelt messages of thanks from the schools saying they are very happy and relieved to now have sufficient water for drinking, basic hygiene and food preparation.

A letter from one of the school principals said: “Your water solution came at the right time... THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH Sumitomo Corporation for your wonderful gift of water”.

Visit DP Moloto Special School

We were finally able to visit DP Moloto Special School in North West Province in August 2024, after being unable to travel there for some time due to the COVID pandemic restrictions. We held a ceremony to celebrate the installation of the PlayPump and presented the school with farming tools and vegetable seedlings for the fields they are cultivating with water from the PlayPump. We were also able to join the learners and teachers in planting some of our donated vegetable seedlings.

Expanding our Activities

We are working not only on the installation of the PlayPumps but also on their maintenance in order to help more children who are suffering from water shortages.

Activity Record

May 2020:

PlayPump installed at D.L. Jansen Primary School, Northern Cape Province

December 2020:

PlayPump installed at Nkhabang Primary School, North-West Province

April 2022:

PlayPump installed at Mandeleni CP School, Kwa-Zulu Natal Province

March 2024:

PlayPump installed at DP Moloto Special School, North-West Province