Drilling is going well at Mama Sukuma Project
Jun.10.2010The drilling process is proceeding well at the Mama Sukuma Women’s Group water project near Kakamega, Kenya. This well will serve the local community and a nearby health center.
Mama Sukuma Self Help Womens Group
Project Snapshot
Country: Kenya
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude 0.307000
Longitude 34.537167
Impact:
Total Served: 800
Status: Completed (?)
Completion Date (or estimate): 05/31/2010
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The project is led by and also serves the Mama Sukuma Self Help Women's group.
Their former water source was a muddy, seasonal and contaminated stream over 4km away (seen below). It took nearly two hours every day, just to collect water from this unsafe source.
That has all changed.
Our implementer in the field filed this report on July 12, 2010 about the day they handed over the project. (unedited)
"Bridge Water Project Officers visit was when the community had some funeral around and this did not allow for meetings with many community members as you can see from the picture, however from Mama Sukuma Chair lady [held] brief discussions with BWP officers, it was apparent that availability of this hand pump scheme within the hospital grounds has enhanced a great impact on the health and well being of the patients in the hospital and local community.
She also added that this well has contributed to the availability of enough water to the maternity rooms in the hospital, it has also resulted to the construction of the hospital kitchen (seen below), saved time for the local community members to do other things in their areas of operations i.e planting of sukuma wiki, dairy farming, bricks making which has become manageable through the provision of this clean and safe drinking water within hospital grounds. In her conclusion she was very thankful to The Water Project for providing them with this basic tool and that they should continue having the same spirit of helping people who have no voice and they are in need of clean and safe drinking water."
She also added that this well has contributed to the availability of enough water to the maternity rooms in the hospital, it has also resulted to the construction of the hospital kitchen (seen below), saved time for the local community members to do other things in their areas of operations i.e planting of sukuma wiki, dairy farming, bricks making which has become manageable through the provision of this clean and safe drinking water within hospital grounds. In her conclusion she was very thankful to The Water Project for providing them with this basic tool and that they should continue having the same spirit of helping people who have no voice and they are in need of clean and safe drinking water."
As you can see, access to clean, safe water can do much more then providing a drink - as critical as that is. Food security, improved health care and even increased construction of better shelter becomes possible.
Water transforms communities.
Project Photos
Project Updates
WaSH Training at Mama Sukuma Womens Group
May.13.2010
Our implementing team recently spent the day with the community and staff of the Mama Sukuma Self Help Group in Western Kenya. In a few weeks, this community 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…
The chairlady of the group among others were there to receive us as they were really happy to get information and later get clean water which they have been eagerly waiting for long. They together appreciated the efforts Bridge water is doing to make communities get clean water so that they can concentrate on other development issues respectively. After the education as a group they agreed to pass on this information to the other community members beginning with their family members
They felt by getting water close they have more time for other projects they are involved in, when there is drought they will be able to use the water for irrigation especially planting of vegetables. The general acceptance of education is high in all communities and its something we will continue doing to make people make informed choices over their Hygiene and sanitation in relation to the clean water that Bridge water project is providing. May we live to continue to support more communities with the right information and clean water.
Sponsors
48 individual donors
Japanese Weekend School
First United Methodist Church - Albany
Country Details
Kenya
- Population: 39.8 Million
- Lacking clean water: 43%
- Below poverty line: 50%
- Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
- Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
- Ethnic Groups:Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
- Life Expectancy: 57 years
- Infant Mortality Rate: 55 deaths per 1000 live births
Partner Profile
Bridge Water Project
BWP staff and crew were originally trained by David Hansen, a retired water engineer from California. David visited Kenya, saw a need, and then recruited and organized this team. He got them equipment and trained them how to use it. He also trained them how to manage their new business.
Today they are drilling at least one well per week. They work in communities they know and help mobilize them. They are able to return and fix broken parts. They are committed to seeing their own people changed when clean water comes.
