'The Fixers': spotlighting Project Maji on TV
- projectmaji
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Project Maji was recently featured on the international TV show ‘The Fixers’, a series that travels the world to work with local volunteers to build, re-build, or renovate a needed structure in an underserved community to deliver life-changing results. For the fifth episode of their fifth season, the Fixers, consisting of Andi Sweeney Blanco, Courtney Dober, and Rob North, traveled to Ghana and partnered with Project Maji to build solar-powered water kiosks in Kledeke on the Volta River. Thanks to the encouragement of a world-famous athlete, the Fixers were able to aid Project Maji in taking one more step towards eliminating water poverty.
Setting the scene
The episode begins with Project Maji's technical team introducing the Fixers to the stark reality that precedes every installation. Thousands of people draw water from a source that is heavily contaminated with bacteria, mining debris, and parasites. Both drinking the river water and standing in it for collection can make you sick, most commonly with bilharzia. For the inhabitants of the Kledeke communities, this results in severe health concerns for the whole population, reducing school attendance among children and economic participation among adults. Community members shared their stories of grief and lost hopes, as well as their fortitude and resilience.
LA Galaxy and international footballer, Joseph Paintsil, reached out to the Fixers to pair their passion for humanitarian efforts along with Project Maji’s expertise in the WASH sector. Growing up in Ghana, Joseph began playing football in the Volta region. He saw firsthand the devastating effects of water poverty and the contaminated river water. Now, Joseph wants to use his platform and voice to advocate for the communities in his home country. Thanks to him, the Fixers and Project Maji were able to come together to combine missions and maximise impact.
Installing solar-powered water systems
Alongside the Fixers team, our Ghana-based engineers and technicians headed the installation of a solar-powered multi-kiosk system, complete with filtration and dispensing devices, that was expected to benefit around 1,700 residents of two villages and a local school. The Fixers helped to construct three of Project Maji's standard and dependable kiosks, built to last (with the help our our maintenance team) and withstand the environment. As always, the school kiosk was a free access point for children and teachers.
With only four days to get the build done, the team worked tirelessly under the West African sun; digging trenches, fitting in river pumps, assembling solar panels, and constructing kiosk infrastructure. Local trainees were also present throughout, receiving the technical training needed for the continuation of maintenance and repairs. This is how local ownership is created; a cornerstone of Project Maji's approach.
Health, education, and community impact
Good health is achieved partly through the availability of safe water, which greatly reduces the cases of water-borne illnesses that these communities have been dealing with for decades. Children can go to school regularly, and women can save valuable time that would otherwise be spent gathering water from contaminated sources. In surrounding communities where Project Maji systems have already been implemented, medical professionals have recorded remarkably reduced cases of infection. This is the kind of difference we will carry with us as we reach more communities in Ghana and beyond.
The story focused on the cooperation of the Fixers, local community, and Project Maji team. From traditional welcomes and music to shared hard work and celebration, the project became more than just an installation — it became a collaboration rooted in respect, partnership, and hope. The dedication of local leaders, technicians, and young community members shows that sustainable change happens when communities are empowered with the tools and knowledge to manage their own resources. This episode not only features the importance of sustainable access to safe water, but also the importance of cultural understanding and connection; two pillars of Project Maji's community engagement efforts. To close out the project, Joseph donated reusable LA Galaxy water bottles to the school children and gave them a message of hope over a video call: enjoy the newfound access to clean water, but take care of it as well.
We feel privileged and honoured to have our work featured on this episode. Thank you to Andi, Courtney, and Rob for their dedication to the project and commitment to the community. Thank you to the team and crew behind 'The Fixers', as well as to Joseph Paintsil for helping bring everyone together. This episode is a reminder of what pushes us every day: the knowledge that access to water is not a privilege, but a human right.
Watch the full episode on BYU TV to catch a glimpse of what teamwork, ingenuity, and determination can bring, as these communities in Ghana gain access to clean water and renewed hope for their future.
