A new well has been completed and handed over to the community at Ark of Orphans Development Project.

This local, grass roots organization cares for orphans and helps place children in local foster homes.  This well project serves the resident orphans, the foster families and the surrounding community.

Our local implementing partner reported…(unedited)

“It was another beautiful day as we arrived at Ark of Orphans offices with the Orphans of Ark looking happy and anxious to be handed over clean and safe drinking water. One could tell as the parents, guardians and community members came in large numbers to witness the handover of the new well.

There was one Orphan child of Ark who gave a testimony describing the new well as their only savior. She said that they have been suffering from water related diseases i.e typhoid as a result of  taking turbid, muddy water, she also added that they had difficult time to concentrate on their daily activities i.e reading, singing in class instead there were forced to walk miles away looking for dirty water now she believes that this will never happen again with this new well near them. On behalf of  the Orphans of Ark she expressed thanks to The Water Project through Bridge Water Project for caring the lives of Orphans by providing them with safe clean water.

A testimony from the Director of Ark of Orphans who described the new well as a source of income to the Ark members since they will utilize this new well to start other new projects i.e brick making, crop growing and dairy farming in turn which will help to raise funds for other basic needs I,e food, clothes and education to Orphans of Ark. On behalf of staff and Board members of Ark he was very thankful to The Water Project through Bridge Water Project for remembering those people who are in need of clean water.”

Our implementing team recently spent the day with the community and staff of Ark of Orphans in Western Kenya.  In a few weeks, this community and orphanage will be receiving their new well.  To prepare them for this and to ensure the impact of the project is as great as possible, WaSH training (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) is carried out.

Here is the unedited report from our partner…

Since they work for orphans and widows they were happy to learn a bout Hygiene and sanitation since most of the orphans have never had parental guide on hygiene and sanitation so it was upon the members to take up the responsibility of teaching them and so they really need this information.
The local Administration was part of the training and she patiently listened and happy that the community members were able to learn  skills on hygiene and sanitation so that they can in turn pass the information to the  other community members. The proposed water point is central at a market place called Ebuyangu market and so the other larger community would benefit too. The watsan committee has a bigger role to play but they assured us that the local administration would  be included in the decision making .