Recently, 20 school water purification systems donated by XCMG, Sinopec, Shangchai, Danfoss and other 17 caring suppliers have been built and put into use in 20 public primary schools in Addis Ababa.

Abby Tasfaye, Director of the School Improvement Program of the Education Bureau of Addis, introduced that the new clean water facilities have benefited more than 23,000 students in 20 schools in the capital. From 2019 to 2021, with the support of XCMG Group and its caring suppliers, 20 schools in Addis have successfully installed 23 ultrafiltration systems, 157 drinking water stations and 152 hand washing stations. On behalf of the Addis Education Bureau, he thanked XCMG and its partners for their selfless support, and said that the Addis Education Bureau would continue to participate in the process and provide support for the popularization of soft knowledge.

Among the 20 public primary schools, Abiyot Primary, established in 1973, is the oldest school. In her 18 years of work, Ms. Mebrat Zerihun, the deputy principal, faced the biggest problem of the tuition burden and poor facilities, especially the school’s lack of water. Speaking of the cholera outbreak in April 2019, she still has lingering fears.

“Before there were no water purification facilities, students could only drink water 2 to 3 times a week, each time for half a day. Due to the low water pressure, the children could not use the tap to drink at the same time. Last year, they suffered water pollution due to sewage leakage from the water supply system. The water in the school has changed color in about three days, it smells bad, and many children are sick...” Most students in the school are not interested in participating in after-school activities, because there is usually no water available in the school in the afternoon. 

And now, with the support of XCMG and caring suppliers, the school can receive the donation of this batch of water purification facilities, and she is full of gratitude.

The principal of Kotebe Primary School, Ms Alem Abebe, said that the school used to be very short of water and the supply was unstable. All students in the school could only use two taps to fetch water. Now it is definitely more convenient than before. He also sent a picture of seeing XCMG forklifts on the road to reporters. “Did you see the pictures I sent? Since the water purification project, I feel very kind whenever I see XCMG on the street.”

Zelalem, the director of the Addis Education Bureau, expressed great affirmation of the water purification project, “This project not only benefits students in a practical way, but is also more independent and sustainable. Especially during the epidemic, the project was completed on schedule. I am very touched. XCMG is a very ambitious and responsible company. This should be the only Chinese company I have encountered during my tenure to do charity, and it is also driving changes in partners across the value chain.”

It is reported that as early as 2016, XCMG focused on the field of clean drinking water and launched the Ethiopian Rural Family Water Cellar Project in conjunction with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, and built 121 family water cellars in two severely arid areas in Ethiopia. In 2019, XCMG launched another 20 school water purification projects to meet the needs of teachers and students for clean drinking water and daily water by building drinking and hand washing stations, water purification equipment, etc.