Manual borehole driller, Michael Soko

Michael Soko inspires many other Zambians to escape poverty. He expanded his well digging business into manual drilling. He is very happy that Jacana guides him in this process. 
Expert Henk Holtslag

SMARTech advisor Henk Holtslag is willing to train him in manual borehole drilling and installation of rope pumps.

Henk Holtslag

Michael Soko is a well digger and bricklayer from Luangeni village. He has a wife and four children.

Micheal

Michael followed the business and the technical training in March 2017. He was very eager to learn, because he wants to build a house for his family, but than he needs to expand his business.

Michael in the business training

Michael in the business training

Michael Soko stopped being a part of the drillers cooperative and stopped drilling.

November 2018

Michael installed a pump on a well of Isaac and Tabhita. Joseph Kabwe produced the pump. 

Tabhita and Isaac

Tabhita and Isaac

August 2018

Michael drilled a borehole and installed a rope pump for Marksensio Phiri. The pump was produced by Gideon Phiri.

pump on borehole Marksensio Phiri

Pump on borehole at Marksensio Phiri’s farm

May 2018

Michael Soko installed a pump on a manually drilled borehole at Mary Phiri’s farm and he constructed a water tank for irrigation purposes. The pump was produced by Gideon Phiri.

Mary Phiri

Pump Mary Phiri

April 2018

Toghether with Edward Tembo, Michael deepened a borehole at Theressa Mbazima’s house. The pump was made by Moses Banda.

pump on deepened well Theressa Mbazima

Pump on deepened well, Theressa

March 2018

Michael and Moses Banda drilled two private boreholes in Lundazi District. One borehole for a family and one for a village. The pumps were made by Gideon Phiri.

private customer Lundazi

Private customer Lundazi

Village pump in Lundazi District

Village pump in Lundazi District

February 2018

Michael and Moses Banda drilled a borehole at Stelia Tembo. The pump was made by Moses Banda 

Micheal Drilling at Stelia

Micheal Drilling at Stelia

Pump at Stelia

Pump at Stelia

January 2018

Michael and his drilling team drilled a borehole and installed a pump at Mary Nkhoma.

Mary Nkhoma

Lundazi - Chipata

Lundazi – Chipata

Michael Soko and Moses Banda drilled the first borehole outside Chipata district in a small town called Lundazi two hours drive from Chipata. The customer Mulabizi Nyimbili is a headteacher and gave the borehole as a Christmas present to his parents. The customer paid for the entire operation, there was no sponsorship involved and the family is happy with the water which is a challenge in Lundazi. The pump was made by Gideon Phiri, who also took care of customer relation.

Mulabizi NyimbiliIn's pump in Lundazi district

Mulabizi NyimbiliIn’s pump in Lundazi district

Michael Soko and Moses Banda (who also made the pump) drilled a borehole at beekeeper Maria Ngoma.

Maria Ngoma's family and pump

Maria Ngoma’s family and pump

December 2017

What did 2017 do for Micheal?

What did 2017 do for Micheal?

Michael Soko, Edward Tembo and Moses Banda drilled a borehole at beekeeper Chrispin Daka. The first attempt failed, but the team did not give up and the second attempt was successful. They even made a ground water recharge system next to the borehole. The pump was made by welder George Chulu.

Drilling at and with Crispin Daka

Drilling at and with Crispin Daka

Water recharche at Crispin Daka

Water recharche at Crispin Daka

Pump at Chrispin Daka

Pump at Chrispin Daka

 
October 2017

Micheal Soko, Edward Tembo and Hillary Phiri deepend a well and installed a pump at private customer Singi Munalula who fully paid (Self-supply) for the work and the pump (no sponsorship). Welder Gidoen Phiri made the pump.

Pump at Self-supply customer Singi Munalula

Pump at Self-supply customer Singi Munalula

The team drilled a borehole at Mr Frank Sakala’s farm which is on very sand soil formation. This took them about six days to drill and install a pump. Mr sakala had fully paid for the borehole and pump, now he has a borehole and has expressed gratitude to Jacana for the work done. (Self-supply)

The team drilling at Frank Sakala's farm

The team drilling at Frank Sakala’s farm

 

Pump installed at Frank Sakala's farm

Pump installed at Frank Sakala’s farm

Micheal and his team encountered problems when drilling at Mr Felix Zulu’s farm.The place was quiet rocky,such that they had to move about in three places within the same farm. In spite of all efforts to find water,  Micheal and his team were not successful until they relocated to another plot belonging to Mr Felix Zulu. At this plot, Micheal and his team successfully drilled a borehole in less than a week, due to the fact that, the water level was shallow. Mr Felix Zulu is happy that he finally has a borehole with plenty of water.

Drilling at Zulu's farm 

Drilling at Zulu’s farm

Second place of drilling

Pump at Felix

Pump at Felix

 

September 2017

Micheal and his team had the community of Lembani for James Mbewe on the show, they managed to drill a borehole in an area where the local authority had once tried with good machinery but failed.This improbable success surprised the community members in that area and added an advantage to the team, they gained recognition,respect and potential customers.

Drilling at James Mbewe

 

Pump Installed

August 2017

The team drilled a borehole at Uveren’Gapi Jere’s Garden, This is a dumbo area making it easy to find water.The pump is perfectly installed and in full operation.

Michael drilling at Uveren'Gapi

Michael drilling at Uveren’Gapi

Pump at Uveren'Gapi

Pump at Uveren’Gapi

 

After drilling several boreholes at their premises,the team had gained enough experience to drill boreholes for customers.This time, they had an opportunity to drill at Mr Joshua Tembo, this drilling was a success and a pump has been installed which is producing plenty of water for Mr Joshua.

Drilling at Joshua Tembo

Drilling at Mr Joshua

Pump at Joshua Tembo's farm

Pump Installed

 

Micheal and his team faced some problems as a group. Jacana proposed to have every week a weekly planning meeting. This is very helpful for the group. Also a bookkeeping system is introduced to Steven and his team. There is no longer confusion about money needed for materials, back up money and salaries. Everybody registers his hours worked and according to that they get paid. Steven showed himself as a great leader of the team.

Bookkeeping for multiple owner companies

Bookkeeping for multiple owner companies

July 2017

The team drilled a borehole at Simbani Chibwe, which had very hard soil formation and took them a long time. But they succeeded and now the village has a second water point.

Drilling and Pump at Simbani

Drilling and Pump at Simbani

June 2017

Manual drilling is not always easy. In Mvula farm the team drilled a borehole without finding water. Jacana SMART centre did not apprrove this (water)point. But the team build the approne anyway paying for the costs them selves. The borehole will be tested again after raining season and a ground water recharge system will be installed at that place to infiltrate the rain water as much as possible.

These sadbacks separate the boys from the men ; )

Drilling and dry Pump at Mvula

Drilling and dry Pump at Mvula

May  2017

Michael drilled 4 boreholes and installed rope pumps this month together with his colleagues. One of them was at his own house.

Drilling and Pump Micheal

Drilling and Pump Micheal

Drilling and Pump Hillary

Drilling and Pump Hillary

Drilling and Pump Edward

Drilling and Pump Edward

Drilling and Pump Hastings

Drilling and Pump Hastings

April  2017

Michael was part of the team who drilled a borehole at Steven’s place. They drilled up to 23 meters.

Micheal drilling at Stevens

Micheal drilling at Steven’s place

Drilling and Pump Steven

Drilling and Pump Steven

 

March  2017

Michael participated in the Jacana’s 3 weeks technical training. Throughout the training Michael was very active and acquired technical drilling skills in the following technologies:

  • Auguring
  • Soil punching
  • Mzuzu drilling with chisel, open and closed bailers
  • Drilling using Jetting
  • Drilling by Sledging
  • Bapthist drilling (percussion)
  • Corbel, open well covering
    Jetting

    Michael is jetting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacana will support Michael in:

  1. Providing technical Training in manual drilling and pump installation.
  2. Provision of initial tools and materials for few pumps.
  3. Guidance in book keeping and financial management.
  4. Marketing

Manual drilling service provider, business plan

PROBLEMinfo

  • Hammer mill owners cannot find enough water for soaking the maize before grinding.
  • Hemmer mill owners cannot find affordable and durable pumps for their services.
  • Hemmer mill owners cannot find nearby water sources for their services.

 

SOLUTIONinfo

Drill boreholes and install pump at their premises.

Try to drill in any location at the customer’s choice

All year round water provision.

 

UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITIONinfo

Simple, market based and repairable technologies.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGEinfo

Obtained official training and recognition.

CUSTOMERinfo

Hammer mill owners.

EARLY ADOPTERS

Hammer mill owners who are already accessing open wells from me.

KEY METRICSinfo

High demand for service, increase in deliveries and new customers.

CHANNELSinfo

Word of mouth, phone calls,radio, t.v

MOST CRITICAL ASSUMPTIONinfo

I think that my customers(hammer mill owners) will like my service and that they will buy them in the future.

TESTinfo

I will install one at home and ask the hammer mill owners if they like     GO:  If 2 out of 4 want my services then it is a GO.

the borehole and want to buy.

COST STRUCTUREinfo

Labour K xxx

REVENUE STREAMSinfo

 

Click here to learn how to read a Lean Canvas Business model.

A borehole and pump was donated by Hofstee Stichting..

This is part of a bigger project sponsored by Aqua for All

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