Water Project:  For a School & a Community

We made our first group trip to Kenya in 2018. The group was mostly beekeepers but also several educators who wanted to visit a local primary school. While our Kenyan hosts took most of us to visit the beekeeper Mulwa, who makes traditional log hives in Ukasi, the teachers/educators visited Saint John’s primary school.  While touring the modest little school, they were quite taken aback when the children and even some of the teachers asked them for water.  After some investigating, we learned that the school, supported by the Anglican Church, had provided money for a well. But the well company dug the borehole and then absconded with the rest of the funds. It was shocking to realize that these children, many of whom walk to and from school, sat all day in the relentless heat, without access to a drop water!

Before we boarded the plane home, the group pulled together the funds to purchase a roof top water catchment system. Our Kenyan colleagues oversaw its installation on the ground, which coincided with the start of the rainy season and within a month the school had water! 

The following year we again visited the beekeeper Mulwa and St Johns primary. We had learned that it would cost $12,000 to purchasing the pump, solar panel, scaffolding and tank to make the borehole functional. Two very generous members of the group put up half the cost and challenged the group to come up with the remainder, which they did. Again, our highly dependable Kenyan colleagues oversaw the purchase and installation of the equipment and by the time we returned the following year the school had a fully functioning well. 

Water is life in Kenya and all too often that means walking hours to a dirty water source and hauling jugs.  A well that supplies clean water can mean all the difference.  Not only does the well supply water for the school itself, but it also generates income for the school as they sell water to local residents.