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This past February, I embarked on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya to volunteer for three weeks. I enrolled in a program that combined Community Outreach and Women's Empowerment. It was a life changing experience. I believe I have come out of it with not only a greater appreciation for what I have but also for what I can do. I spent most of my time visiting extremely impoverished communities and schools. At first, I didn't know what I could possibly do to help, there was so much need. It was overwhelming. I was told to just listen and spend time with the women and children. So I did. I listened to the mothers and grandmothers tell me their stories of illness, poverty and hunger. I was struck and moved by their sense of gratitude for what they have, hope for the future and their resilience against such devastating circumstances. I also witnessed first-hand the overwhelming need for clean, affordable water. The lack of water presents such a terrible cycle of illness, lack of education for children and future unemployment. On average women and children walk up to 6kms a day for water. This means they're not attending school or working to provide for their families. Unfortunately, this is a very common situation not only where I was but Globally. Since my return, I have started a charity called WATER PROJECT KENYA to raise money to deliver clean, affordable water to this community.
THE COMMUNITY
City Carton or otherwise known as the Forgotten Slum, sits on the edge of the Mombasa Highway, near the Athi River area. The name City Carton comes from the type of housing the slum once had, homes made of paper cartons and boxes. As you can imagine, this construction did not protect against rain, wind and, of course, fire. Over time, residents converted their homes to metal sheeting however the conditions remain overcrowded and unhealthy.The only source of clean water is miles away and costs twice as much as the water available in most local villages or communities. As a result, families resort to collecting water from the stream near the slum. This stream contains sewage and run-off from surrounding factories. The water is brown, filled with chemicals and waste, and is not suitable for washing clothes, let alone human consumption. 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to a water-related disease. Clean and safe water is essential to healthy living.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
From generous donors and support on the ground, we can provide a water tank within City Carton for every family to access. One tank provides 40-litres of water a day to every household in the community. It will be refilled every week with clean water to ensure it is always available. It must be a sustainable business and one that the community can manage. In order to do this, we need to charge a small amount to each family for the water. This amount will be affordable for families but will help offset the weekly costs of refilling the tank.
I will be managing this project from start to finish and I will work with the local NGO on the ground ensure it happens. I want to thank you in advance for your help and I will continue to update you on my progress.
Our Partners
Positive Life Kenya works to break the cycle of poverty by educating and empowering marginalized families to build healthy environments for their children to thrive and create lasting change. Positive Life Kenya
believes in a holistic approach to supporting the families in their community by delivering programs focused on their most critical needs.
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