Meet Pump Aid’s new chair

We welcome Sandra Welch, our new Chair of Pump Aid’s Trustees, whose experience and enthusiasm will support the vital work we do to improve safe reliable water access in Malawi.

“I am delighted to have joined the board of trustees as the Chair of Pump Aid, and I look forward to joining them on this incredible journey to realise their vision – to end water poverty in Malawi.”

I was born and raised in Johannesburg and moved to the UK in my mid-twenties. As a teen I was taught the importance and value of water as South Africa experienced a severe drought in the 1980s and 90s. We had to live with water restrictions and learn about the importance of water conservation.

In the early 2000s, I was privileged to work on a number of International Development Projects in sub-Saharan Africa and was involved in many water and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects. I witnessed the positive impact that these programmes can have on both individuals and local communities, and released that water is life! Essentially, it’s healthy children, access to education, livelihood and jobs, equity and economic independence – all intrinsically linked to access to safe water. Studies have shown that reduced access to water heightens rural poverty, malnutrition and loss of employment.

I was drawn to being a Chair of Pump Aid’s Trustees because of the remarkable work they do in Malawi, in particular their dedicated staff team and their long-term approach to their charitable activities which is about “Enterprise, not aid.” Pump Aid’s innovative programmes provide an exciting paradigm shift from aid to sustainability. Supplying communities with vital technical skills necessary to not only install and repair, but also maintain water pumps across Malawi.

If you have been inspired by Sandra and would like to get involved with Pump Aid as a volunteer or supporter, please get in touch on info@pumpaid.org.