Ian Thorpe - Exective Director

 

 

Ian Thorpe is a quiet unassuming Yorkshire-born son of a Methodist minister whose drive and determination has seen him affect the lives of thousands across Africa.

 

At the age of 18 his decision to take a gap year met with resistance from his parents, but he wanted to prove that self-reliance was the way to go and set out for Zimbabwe and a teaching job with Project Trust.

  

He was immediately appointed as head of Maths and Science, teaching people from 11 to 35 years of age.  He lived in a small room, slept on a mat and had to walk two miles to the nearest fresh water point.  It was this particular part of his existence that was to eventually change his life.

  

During his stay in Zimbabwe , Ian began to see children he had taught die of dysentery, caused by drinking water containing animal faeces.  "It was not pleasant," he said.  "Surely there was something I could do about it.  My memories of this will be forever etched on my mind."

 

Initially, Ian's purpose for working there was to earn enough money to see him achieve a lifetime's ambition to visit the Comoros   Islands in East Africa and camp at the top of its active volcano.  He saved his money and arrived in the Comoros with nothing left in his pocket.

  

Ian could not afford a guide, so decided to set out to the top of the volcano alone.  He became lost in the forest, which was dry from the heat given out from the volcano.  In addition, that same volcano had erupted every 11 years.  I was 13 years since the last eruption.  Ian was tired, thirsty and lost.

 

"It was at this point, when I was at my lowest, that I felt an overwhelming sense of what I now know must have been God.  I needed his help.  I was not able to be self-reliant."

 

Through the night he felt uneasy.  The smell of sulphur began to fill his nostrils and breathing became difficult.  He decided that he needed to make haste down the volcano in case it erupted.  Amazingly, he came across a guide leading a Frenchman down the dry slopes.

 

Back in Zimbabwe, Ian decided to serve as director for Project Trust for a further period, and while there looked at ways to solve the fresh water crises.

  

Returning to the UK he studied for a BSc at the University Of East Anglia (UAE) during which time he was asked to lead an expedition to the Comoro   Islands to search for a rare fruit bat.  "We found the bat," said Ian casually.  "It came soaring towards us across a misty river, like a scene out of Jurassic   Park .  It had a 6ft wing span and flew right over our heads in the early morning misty sun."

 

Whilst at UAE, Ian did additional studies into water resources.  NGOs pay up to £6,000 per pump installed, and still have high maintenance costs to find.  "There had to be a more cost effective way," said Ian.

 

It was while he was researching in a library Ian found an ancient Chinese water pump called The Elephant Pump.  Although he did not shout " Eureka !" he realised that he had found something which, manufactured correctly, could bring the same fresh water being produced by other pumps at a fraction of the cost.

 

"After two years of researching and trials we had found a solution," said Ian.  "It was going to save lives, provide fresh water, train local people, and it was going to release thousands of pounds into other health areas by reducing the cost of each pump."  The Elephant Pump won a prestigious 'new innovation' award at the World Summit, and has attracted support from people such as Nelson Mandela.

 

"However, we have over 500 schools waiting for a pump.  Each school that requires a pump should have at least another four in the village to continue the supply when not at school.  This means that over 2,000 pumps are required at present, and more requests are being added each week."

 

Despite many hurdles (Ian has been held at gunpoint and almost mugged by eight Zimbabweans) Ian believes this work is his calling.  "I have learned that self-reliance is impossible in the greater scheme of things.  It always seems to come back to God."

 

Ian has now opened doors into Malawi and Mozambique where more and more pumps are needed.  Either church groups or individuals can sponsor a pump and have direct contact with some of the children in the villages.  Currently, Pump Aid, through their sponsorship AquAid, and schools nationwide have installed 1,200 pumps in villages across Africa.  This means somewhere in the region of 750,000 lives have been turned around.  Receiving a pump means a village can look to increase its health, and commence self-sufficiency farming.  They now have a hope.

 

 

© Christian Herald 15 January 2005   

 

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