The Moringa team worked in designing a solution to the water drinking problem in Guizhou, China, in collaboration with the local Communist Youth League Committee.
Problem
SIGHT Moringa team collaborated with the local Communist Youth League Committee in Changshun County, Guizhou, to solve the pollution issue in drinking water. According to the organization, the drinking water is polluted by heavy metals, pathogens and with high concentration of calcium ions. These pose a threat to the health of inhabitants of Changshun.
Solution
The student team has proposed an innovative solution to purify the water by using seeds from a tree, Moringa oleifera, which has been reported to reduce metal ion1,2 and bacterial concentrations3 . By making use of the properties of the Moringa seeds, they have designed a device for local people to purify drinking water. In summer 2016 when SIGHT students visited Changshun, Guizhou they observed that most of the households collect water from the roof top and directly use it for drinking without any treatment. The team has collected several water samples for further testing and they have planted Moringa trees in the villages.
They observed that there is a potential to further Moringa project as a social entrepreneurship. Guizhou is home to a plurality of ethnic groups, with a majority of Han (62%), and the major minorities are Miao (12%) & Buyei (8%). Because of the cultural mix, they have their respective, unique cultural customs, such as batik paintings and dyeing. Government policies, cultural and social conducts also have huge influences on their life practices.
