THE REALITY…
Nowadays the access to water is one of the greatest problems in Africa.
The lack of drinkable water has a direct effect on the health of the general population and is the most common cause of death in children.
Around 300 million African people don’t have access to drinkable water and, at least 14 African countries suffer from a continual water shortage.
CLEAN WATER FOR THE SHEPHERDS FROM NORTH POKOT
COUNTRY TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE: Kenya
LOCAL MEMBERS: Cambonian missionaries, living in Amakuriat: Kenya
TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT: 22,000€ for two wells and the required water pumps.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEMS ON WHICH WE PLAN TO ACT UPON: The aim is to provide drinkable water to the local population of 850 inhabitants, who live around Kamakos. Each family needs 40 liters of water a day. If they had access to clean water, the current number of Typhus and Dysentery cases would decrease dramatically (and even stop). By assuring the continuation and quality of their source of water, the population will be to become more stabilized and irrigate their fields. Irrigation alone would provide food, work and security regardless of future population growth and dry years. By having access to a local source of water, the population will even be able to water their personal vegetable holdings, by carrying their own water.
The drilling task is done by local Kenyan companies. And the maintenance of the wells is done by machinery and workers from the mission itself. Whenever a new well is to be drilled, the local population contributes 2% of the total cost themselves (Personal investment by the local communities has been shown to promote feelings of ownership and have a greater effect in the local area. However, due to the local poverty anything more than 2% is unrealistically expensive, even for something so important). And when it comes to the maintenance of the wells, the population contributes with a third of the expenses themselves, although they will be increasing the local contribution.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BENEFICIARIES AND WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:
The beneficiaries belong to the Pokot ethnic group, from the north-east of Kenya. Traditionally, they have always been nomadic shepherds, though they have settled in the last 20 years and formed a settlement. The area in which they live has excellent potential for agriculture and, as a result of incorporating newer agricultural technologies in their lives, more than half of all the children are able to receive an education (currently 55%).
The local population keep livestock, however only receive minimal economic benefits, as a single cow will only produce 200ml of milk a day during the wet season and none at all during the dry season. The goats produce only 50ml of milk a day during the wet season. During times of desperate need, the shepherds are forced to sell off their animals to pay for medicine, clothes or their children’s school fees (which is extremely expensive for Kenyan standards of living).
In terms of numbers the direct beneficiaries will be: 850 people, 8,000 goats and 3,400 cows.
Indirectly these wells will also benefit: 1,200 people in the local area, and more than 4,000 goats and 3,200 cows which will pass along their seasonal migratory routes towards the fields of the Kadam Mountains (in Uganda).
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCAL CONTACT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROJECT: Father Tomas Herrero Baroja of the Combonian Catholic Church..
Father Herrero Baroja is a member of the District Education Board and the Water Council , in the Kiwawa and Alele areas of the North Pokot province. He is a Combonian missionary priest, who has been living in the area since January 2006. However, Father Herrero Baroja previously lived in North Pokot for 9 years, during the 80s and decided to return to become more involved in the local area.