Sunshine plumber Richard Harvie has been on a life changing journey.
Mr Harvie recently travelled to Zimbabwe to set up self-sustaining fresh water projects, helping more than 7000 people in the Gweru District, 300 kilometres from the country’s capital, Harare.
He said the trip had a profound affect on him.
“It was an unbelievable trip, very heart-touching,” Mr Harvie said.
“We did the water bore and then laid pipes and installed pumps so no house would have to walk more than 250 metres to get fresh water. It was previously 10 kilometres. I spoke to one lady who had four daughters.
“Three of them had been raped and killed walking to get clean water, so this is genuinely life-changing.
“They were so happy, they were singing and dancing when we got it up and running.”
Mr Harvie worked with the charity Hopes and Dreams and received a grant from Reece to complete the project.
He said locals had asked if more pipes could be laid to reach the school, five kilometres from the village, so he was hoping to return soon.
“There’s more work that needs to be done, and we’ve got more campaigns running to try and do more,” he said.
