Water Pump and Solar Panels

One of the last steps in building a long-lasting borehole is the installation of the water pump. For the Lositeti community, this is especially important because the water will be pumped more than a mile away from the water collection site. This design was agreed upon because the main community hub is far away from the borehole site which was (accurately) predicted to yield good water flow. We also installed solar power—thirty 540-kilowatt solar panels—to power the pump at the site. As soon as there was a break in the rain a few weeks ago, local contractors installed this pump and power system.

These solar panels will generate enough energy to run the water pump and pump the water up the hill to its holding tank. The panels and pump were generously donated by our friends at the Newark Rotary Club, Rotary District 7630, and eight additional partner clubs. Collectively, they raised a total of $16,350 to fund this part of Lositeti’s borehole infrastructure. This is what it looks like to put “Service above Self” for others.

The Importance of Partnerships

We love working with selfless Rotarians because they know how to mobilize support for others. Not only does Rotary’s emphasis of “Service Above Self” align with our mission, but one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus aligns perfectly with our WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) projects. Because of this overlap, we’ve worked on other water projects with Rotary International before. Completed in 2012, our Olepolos Community Borehole project was funded by a Rotary International Global Grant sponsored by the Dover Colonial Rotary Club. This deep borehole well is still functioning today.

For Lositeti, however, we and our Rotary friends decided to fund a specific part of the borehole project by earning a district grant and enrolling partner clubs. In this way, the Lositeti project enrolled more Rotarians and had a larger Delmarva footprint than an ordinary Global Grant. By traveling to different clubs across District 7630, we were able to spread awareness about the need for water in Kajiado County. The result was a successful project at Lositeti that was supported by more donors and partners than any previous WILK project.

This project could not have been accomplished without Newark Rotary’s incoming president, Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow Jerry Bilton. Throughout 2023, Jerry mobilized his connections to set up talks at Rotary Clubs across District 7630. He traveled with our Outreach and Operations Manager, Aaron Lemma, to co-present the project at many of these clubs. Throughout the fund-and-awareness-raising process, Jerry communicated regularly with project partners and the WILK team to ensure everything was in order for success. The time and effort Jerry and Aaron put into enlisting a total of nine Rotary clubs and earning a District 7630 grant was substantial.

The mission of Rotary is to connect people with a shared vision, and Jerry and his Newark Rotary club have done just that for us. Their commitment to service shows us just how much can be achieved when you can get everyone involved. We are indebted to each of our partners who helped bring clean water and new life to Lositeti: Newark Delaware Rotary Club; Newark Star Rotary Club; Camden-Wyoming Rotary Club; Dover Colonial Rotary Club-Dover Delaware; Dover Capital City Rotary; Dover Downtown Rotary Club; Rotary of Kent Island; Rotary Club of St. Michaels; MOT Rotary Club; Rotary District 7630; Project Leader Jerry Bilton; and individual contributors: DG John Magher; DGND Ken Montville; Michael Friedberg; Sue and Johnathan Simon.

Because of their commitment to Lositeti, Water is Life Kenya is proud to honor District 7630 and this project’s champion, Jerry Bilton, into our prestigious Kilimanjaro Club. Thank you for your inspiring generosity!

What’s Next for Lositeti

To protect the solar panels from animal interference, an electric fence (also funded by this Rotary effort) has been installed. Currently, Lositeti’s Water Management Committee is getting the hang of managing their borehole. Soon we’ll hand the borehole over to the Lositeti community, which will benefit tremendously from their new water source. People are still recovering from the loss of livestock, so the new water supply will aid in their recovery. We anticipate the official Handover Ceremony to take place over the summer.

Lositeti will surely have reason to celebrate this year. Among other things, the availability of clean, potable water at a local source will support the community’s women and children. The obvious benefits include reducing illnesses and supporting the health of both people and animals. But having a close, dependable water source empowers women and allows them to generate income that supports themselves and their children.

Communities thrive with the simple gift of water. Over the last 17 years, we’ve helped nearly 100,000 people transform in so many positive ways after lifting the burden of searching for water. We currently have two more water projects in the works now that Lositeti’s borehole is almost finished. We can’t wait to develop more partnerships and provide more Kenyans with clean water access.

SAVE THE DATE: Wine into Water — Celebrating a Job “Well” Done with Newark Rotary & Partners

Together with Jerry, Newark Rotary, and Newark Star Rotary, WILK is hosting a celebration in honor of the Lositeti Handover Ceremony with a “Wine into Water” event. On Friday, July 12, we’ll be at Deerfield Wines from 5:00-7:00 pm. You can participate in a silent auction of art donated by Newark Arts Alliance and shop our collection of Kenyan beaded handicrafts. There will also be light fare and wine tasting provided. Join us as we come together in fellowship and rejoice at how much partnerships can accomplish!

The post Newark Rotary, Rotary District 7630 put “Service Above Self” for Lositeti, Kenya appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

This is the story of how we’re bringing water to Lositeti.

Water Troubles

We talk a lot about how long many women and their daughters have to walk to find water in Kenya. Lositeti was no different. Even last week, when we discussed the issue with women who live there, they said it takes about six hours round-trip to bring water home. Sometimes, because the “water hole” didn’t necessarily have any water.

Instead, women “scooped” in a sand bed to try to retrieve whatever water they could. About 1/3 of the time, they wouldn’t get anything beyond sand. And the area was busy: both people and wild animals all went there for the same reason, looking for water in an area where it was supposed to be. Also, because of the animals’ waste, the water wasn’t safe for consumption.

Plus, it’s hot. Imagine walking all that way for nothing.

Economic Difficulties

People in Lositeti are still struggling after the devastating drought that just ended in Kenya. Many cows died from lack of grass and water, leaving Maasai without their traditional means of savings. They haven’t been able to replace the lost cows, either. Right now, they can only afford to eat maize because beans are hard to come by. People are so poor and isolated that, even with the rain falling now, they can’t bounce back.

Lositeti is the most remote of our water projects, and Michael traveled a long way to reach us. Even though he’d heard of us through interacting with other communities, other people in Lositeti weren’t aware of how we could help.

The Road Less Traveled

Recent rain meant the road couldn’t support the weight of the trucks bringing in the drilling equipment. On February 19, after they’d had some time to dry, we decided to test the road. At one point, the trucks got stuck in a muddy spot. It took some persistence and elbow grease, but by the end of the day the drilling rig and casings were in place. What a celebration for our friend Michael on his birthday!

Drilling began the following day. We hit the first aquifer at 28 meters, which was much sooner than we expected. Ultimately, we drilled down to about 150 meters (almost 500 feet) where we decided the rate of the water flow would be sufficient. On February 26, we began test pumping. Early reports from the people who filled their water jugs suggest that the water is “tasty.” More importantly, about two minutes after we stopped pumping the water level rose back to where it needed to be.

Building a Better Future with Water

The construction of the borehole in Lositeti will take several months. There are also decisions to make regarding the size of the pump and how to power it. These choices will determine how many connections to the new water source can be made as well as how much it will cost to keep the borehole running. In an area where there isn’t much money, it’s important to plan out as much as possible to avoid making costly changes later on.

We’re hopeful that the good luck we’ve had in Lositeti will continue, and we’re so grateful to Rotary District 7630 and the rest of our faithful donors who contributed towards this water project. We can’t wait to complete the borehole so that Lositeti will have fresh, clean water available for a long time to come.

The post The Path to Water: Bringing a Borehole to Lositeti appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

We’d like to introduce you to Global Linkages as well as tell you more about our goals for this project.

Linking People to Africa

Founded in 1997 and based in the NJ-NYC metropolitan area, Global Linkages, Inc. is a management consulting firm that specializes in developing partnerships between the United States and the African continent with a particular focus on the African Diaspora.

As part of its services, Global Linkages provides a “boutique travel experience” that connects individuals, educational institutions, governments, businesses, and community development organizations with unique and exciting explorations in Africa. The goal is to provide an immersive experience that goes beyond traditional tourism by building deep relationships with the communities that they visit. Groups have traveled to Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, and, in 2022, Kenya and Tanzania.

Lorna Johnson, owner of Global Linkages, has coordinated both state trade missions as well as community development tours to various African countries. She gives travelers a lasting experience by performing service projects while they’re abroad. Her focus is on organizations whose work includes international and global interests.

“We Want to Help”

In 2022, Global Linkages organized two tours to Kenya. During an East African Tour, a partnership was established with members of Olmoti, a Maasai community near Amboseli National Park in Kenya.

This community has many needs, and after seeing their situation travelers decided to help them. The initial request was to provide school supplies and sneakers for children, and over 160 pairs of shoes were shared. However, it soon became clear that more help was needed. As travelers rode through the towns and countryside, they saw dry, red dust everywhere but very little green vegetation.

Maasai tour guides described how the lack of water was killing their cattle and, with them, entire livelihoods. One family’s herd which was 60 heads of cattle—assets that essentially act as bank accounts—was reduced to 3 during the drought. Men traveled hundreds of miles away to find pasture, which stressed families tremendously.

After her two trips to Kenya, she realized Global Linkages could do more work to help the people they visited. After learning about the work we do at WILK, Lorna reached out to us to work together and bring a stable water source to Olmoti. Together, we decided a borehole project would be the most beneficial resource for this community.

Olmoti, Global Linkages, and WILK

Over the years, WILK has discovered that partnering with a strong community will make our projects more successful. Olmoti is an active community with good leadership that’s committed to serving its members. However, it’s located in the pathway of the Great Migration, which means dangerous wildlife inhibits water collection outside of the area. A borehole within the community would help people have direct access to clean water while preventing women and their daughters from encountering lions and other potential threats.

Wells in this region are incredibly deep and, therefore, elephant-proofed. Because of this extra precaution, the cost of this project is $100,000 USD. An investment in this community will secure not only their survival but also their self-reliance. By involving the Olmoti community—especially the women—at every step of this process, we’re ensuring this valuable water resource will be used, maintained, and respected for generations to come.

Both Global Linkages and WILK believe in partnering with local communities to help them become self-sufficient. We’re so happy to be working with Global Linkages while also helping the Olmoti community. To learn more and support this project, you can donate directly to the Global Linkages Water Project Campaign.

The post Partnership Announcement: Global Linkages appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

New Water Projects

Our donors helped us and those whom we serve get through the ferocious drought. The generosity of our WILK community funded water projects, food relief, and the restocking of livestock. The supply of clean water from our dozens of water projects also supported life and kept people clean and healthy.

This year, with your generosity combined with the power of strong partnerships, our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program will bring more clean water to at least three new communities in southern Kenya: Lositeti, Olmoti, and Olasiti. Currently, we’re standing by with the drilling machine to break ground in Lositeti for their water project.

Continuing the LAB Reboot

WILK’s Livestock as a Business (LAB) Program has been teaching many farmers critical skills. LAB members, past and present, reported that most of their livestock survived the drought. Some goals of LAB’s training are to improve the management of and increase the income from livestock, the main source of income in our region. And it works. Learned skills (pasture conservation, disease prevention and control, well-timed buying and selling of livestock, and drought cycle management) empower livestock farmers to manage their resources and keep their animals alive, their families fed, and their children in school.

WILK’S LAB program reboot is going strong. Nine groups received training and livestock loans this past fall. The cattle purchased with livestock loans in November and December are fattening nicely and will bring profit to the groups.

Currently, more women’s groups than men’s groups want to join LAB. But we found higher-than-expected livestock losses in some families of women LAB members. Although we train them, when it comes to actual decisions all these women can do is say to their husbands, “We learned it’s good to sell livestock on time, before they are too skinny, and use the money from the sale to manage our other cows.” Not every husband listened to his wife, so cows died. We plan to extend this program to reach more men, who make the decisions for livestock in their families.

Our own Livestock Farmers – Larasha and Nelson

At the cattle restocking ceremony last year, we gave a mini-LAB lesson to the recipients of the livestock and the other attendees. The reception of the message was good, especially since the benefits of the training were obvious. WILK co-founder, Joseph Larasha, hosted the ceremony at his home in front of his newly constructed animal feed store.

He said, “You can feed cows at home and save your cows. When cows stay home, they save energy and don’t need as much food since they no longer walk long distances.” People saw how healthy and numerous his cows were. They also saw the feed store, which he’s filling with food to prepare for the next drought.

Nelson Tinayo, WILK field officer and member of the Ilmarba Livestock Farmer Group (which lost cows during the drought), shared his experience at the ceremony: “There is no reason for the drought to kill cows if we store food for our cows and sell at the right time. You need to look at your capacity to feed the cows you have. When you can’t feed them all, sell some to buy food for others and those will survive.”

The LAB Graduate Cooperative

One powerful tool for training is through the new livestock cooperative formed by individuals who are members of graduated groups. In Kenya, a cooperative is “a self-governing group of people who have come together to address their economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a business that they own and control democratically.”

The Nashumu Cooperative (meaning “to lift up”) was formed in 2019 to promote continuing economic development and a community of smart livestock farmers. The 45 cooperative members come out of livestock farmer groups that completed four years of the LAB program. They didn’t want to lose the benefits of training, good community spirit, continuous learning, and camaraderie of the LAB program. Their main activities are to buy, fatten, and market livestock.

With support from WILK in 2024, the cooperative can be a powerful example of successful livestock keeping in WILK’s work region and a force to propel recovery from the drought. A main area of focus for both LAB and the cooperative will be to implement and provide good examples of pasture conservation and improvement, focusing on the construction of stores, improvement, and protection of grasslands.

Look for More from WILK

With your support, we look forward to great things ahead as we work together for a 2024 full of growth and prosperity. Thank you for ALL YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, and best wishes for a brilliant year ahead!

Much Love,

Joyce Tannian and the WILK USA and WILK Kenya teams

The post The Year Ahead: WILK’s Goals for 2024 appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

50 Families Have Cows and Goats

The recent drought in Kenya, the worst in 40 years, devastated families across the region. Over the last several months, there’s been enough rain to pool areas of water and encourage grass growth, both of which are needed so cultivated livestock can survive.

While we waited for conditions to become sustainable, we trained three new and six reactivated LAB groups. Previous participants welcomed back the LAB program, which has taught livestock management and disease prevention since 2011. New participants also received training over the summer as a way to prepare them for their cows and goats.

In December, we purchased the livestock from the market. Our donor community helped us buy a total of 25 cows and 50 goats. A person received either two goats or one cow, which means that 50 families benefitted from the Restock & Restore Campaign. One woman even walked five miles to the meet-up spot—without shoes on. When our team asked if she needed to borrow a pair to walk back, she said, “I have a cow now—I don’t need shoes.”

Lives Have Changed Already

Cows and goats change everything for families in need. Especially after the long drought, livestock gives hope to people who lost animals and income. Those who own cows are given more respect by their peers—and have more confidence in themselves. Cows are a long-term investment for Maasai livestock farmers. They equal currency and can either be used as payment or sold for money. They’re also an important, inherent part of Maasai culture, both in ceremonial and practical use.

As an organization that relies on donor funds, we at Water is Life Kenya want to use our hard-won resources in the right way to get the desired results. We understand that the first step is to help people develop as individuals before transformation can happen at the family and community levels. Part of our mission is to equip Maasai with tools that develop income through improved resource management. Getting high-impact results in human development provides the evidence our generous donors need to know that their money is being used well.

We support Maasai livestock farmers, both in and beyond the LAB program, so that they can continue this long-practiced tradition. Livestock is life for Maasai and, through sharing what they learned, LAB graduates are spreading prosperity throughout their communities.

Entering the New Year with Cows

This first distribution inspired great hope in the communities we work in. People who hear about the distribution have approached our team, asking to be on the list for the next distribution.

Well, earlier this month we celebrated the 90th birthday of our Board President, Francis X. Tannian. Instead of gifts, family and friends donated cows in his honor. 22 recently purchased cows will be distributed on December 30th, right before the new year.

It’s shaping up a to be a bright 2024 for them and many other families as we continue this transformative work across Kajiado County, Kenya.

The post Cows and Goats: Gifts of Hope appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

Training Highlight 1: Leadership & Ground Dynamics

The new LAB groups this year are from Kitirua, Esiteti, and Kelunyet. We train groups rather than individuals because by working together as a team they are more likely to be successful. Some of our first training sessions this summer taught participants about group dynamics and leadership roles. As you may remember from your time in school, perhaps the best way to learn–and remember–key lessons is through interactive demonstrations.

One example of a training activity is moving a full glass of water on a blanket as a group. Each person holds a corner of the blanket with the glass in the middle, then they have to move. The goal is to keep the glass upright, symbolically showing how members of the group need to work together—or else the water falls over.

We also teach using examples that Maasai are familiar with. This way, they can more easily connect the lessons with their businesses. In one training session, we use animal metaphors to identify group member personalities to decide what job each person should have, and which personalities to be cautious about. For example, someone who has the traits of a giraffe—with a vision for the future—would be a good leader. On the other hand, someone with the traits of a snake—quietly scheming for his or her own gain—needs to be watched closely.

Training Highlight 2: Livestock Disease Practical

Another key element of our LAB trainings is to identify previous business problems so that they can be corrected. Some participants have kept livestock before, while others are looking forward to owning their first animals. Either way, Maasai herders tend to manage livestock like their neighbors, even if those neighbors are practicing bad business techniques.

Our program teaches groups best-practice livestock management, disease prevention, control, and drought resilience. We instruct these farmers on livestock market surveys, timely buying and selling, budgeting and record-keeping, and grass conservation and management, all of which help increase profit margins. The goal of LAB is to help people have healthier herds, and more stable incomes, for the long run.

Recently, our new groups came together for the first time to participate in their Livestock Disease Practical. Participants learned valuable lessons as local veterinarians demonstrated how to care for, treat, and prevent illness in their livestock. Some members have used medicine before, but scarcely and often in ways not based in evidence.

This hands-on practical not only gave LAB members experience in administering medicine, but also empowered them with confidence to treat their animals from life-threatening diseases. By learning about common threats to their herds, farmers can be better prepared to identify warning signs of disease, prevent livestock casualties, and keep their animals vital. In turn, teaching LAB groups these skills offers the chance for better profit margins when it’s time to sell in the market.

Training Highlight 3: New Business Seminar

No matter where you are in the world, starting a small business is challenging. So, to cap off these critical training, we also hosted a three-day New Business Seminar in Oloitokitok. For many participants, this was their first traveling this far from home–and sleeping in a hotel!

Alongside local business experts, our team instructed LAB groups in keeping records, managing their herds, the best times to buy and sell, and navigating market days. Two of our LAB groups are women’s groups, and most of these women never attended the livestock market before. By practicing with a mock market, they got to practice bartering, speaking up for themselves, and having confident postures. All the lessons they learned these days will be practiced as they move forward with their groups.

After these training sessions, some people are already putting their lessons into practice. One woman named Nkameroi convinced her husband to sell two bulls in order to buy another breed. Likewise, Nailepu told her husband that her business was failing because of its location, so he’s building her a small shop. This direct application of their new skills shows how eager they are to learn as much as possible about making the most out of what they have.

Looking Ahead: Market Day for Old and New Groups

For LAB participants, these core trainings inform their decisions in the coming years. The LAB program lasts 4 years, with the bulk of new trainings occurring in year one. After that, it’s about practicing, learning from mistakes, and working as a group to turn a strong profit.

Currently, there are six LAB groups in years 2-4 of the program. There was a seventh group, but their area was hit especially hard by the drought, so they decided to opt out of the program this next year.

After trainings, the critical portion of the LAB program are the livestock loans we give to groups. With cash in hand, we send these groups into the livestock market to buy animals when the time is right. The ideal market day–right before the seasonal rains–is approaching soon. With their new knowledge, the groups make reliable profits after this initial purchase. The money made by each group is also saved or reinvested so that groups eventually will no longer need the loans. This, in turn, promotes further community development because overall more money is in circulation.

We’re excited to watch as old and new LAB groups come together on market day and put their loans to good use. Soon, they will join the over 650 LAB graduates who’ve already changed their farming practices with this model. We can’t wait to see what they can accomplish, both together and on their own.

The post Livestock as a Business: Fall 2023 Update appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

We decided that bringing our organizations together would make our partnership even more beneficial. Through this new model, both WILK and WILK-TEC can work more effectively as they establish more rainwater harvesting projects. Now, as we join forces, we can continue to Kenyans bloom through love and water.

A portion of the rainwater harvesting system and water storage at Imurtot.

A Partnership Years in the Making

Kim Teoli, who worked with WILK under EWB, is enthusiastic about the collaboration.

“WILK’s passion for their work has spread to our engineering team, and at this point, I can’t imagine partnering with anyone else. I’m excited to join the WILK team, and I know that we’ll be able to get even more done as one organization.”

Kim Teoli, Principal Contract Manager, Pepco Holdings

WILK-TEC’s mission is to leverage the expertise of dedicated professionals to design, develop, and implement sustainable water projects in Kenya. Committed to fostering positive transformation, they strive to improve access to clean water sources, enhance sanitation practices, and uplift local communities by combining technical innovation, cultural sensitivity, and collaborative partnerships.

Building on Past Success, Together

Throughout the years, this group of engineers has provided great technical expertise, and energetic, fun, willing, and enthusiastic volunteers from many engineering disciplines. They designed a replicable rainwater system at Imurtot that will be implemented at other sites, providing clean water for students to improve their education and well-being.

In 2016, EWB visited Imurtot to determine how to construct a robust, reliable water storage system, a project they completed in 2020. Earlier this year, EWB had the chance to revisit Imurtot to complete repairs and scout new locations to implement their rainwater system.

Successful partnerships bring out the best in the parties, maximize strengths, and help us reach our shared goals. This has surely been the case with this gracious team of engineers. Join us in welcoming WILK-TEC to the WILK family!

The engineering team working to install gutters at Imurtot. When we say they’re experts, we mean it!

Supporting WILK-TEC

You can support WILK-TEC directly by visiting their giving page here.

WILK-TEC is always looking for new members and volunteers. They are not just an engineering organization–there are plenty of opportunities for non-engineering experience, such as health, education, graphic design, language, business, and many other backgrounds. WILK-TEC also has plenty of opportunities to support both local and international communities.

To get involved, email the team at wilktec@waterislifekenya.org.

The post Partnership Spotlight: WILK-TEC appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

To keep you in the know, we’ve compiled highlights from our WILK Wednesdays for you here. We hope you enjoy this brief review of how you and our generous community of donors have been helping Kenyans bloom this year.

Working With Our Partners

In January, we hosted Engineers Without Borders – Delaware Professional Chapter, an amazing group of engineers who volunteer their vacation time to complete service projects in Kenya. This time, they worked at Imurtot Primary School in Loitokitok to repair the rainwater catchment system they installed in 2020. They also scouted for areas where they can provide water collection assistance in the future. We look forward to EWB’s next project!

We also partnered with the Lions Club, which has connected us to many selfless people. On February 9, we visited the United Nations campus in Nairobi for the annual Lions Day at the UN event. Speakers including Deputy President of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua discussed the importance of tackling the global climate crisis. The persistence of lengthy droughts, including the 2.5-year-long drought that communities in Kajiado County dealt with, has negatively affected the Kenyan economy. The Lions stand in solidarity with local NGOs, as climate change has brought problems to much of East Africa and around the world.

In happier news, our friend Paul of the Pike Creek Green Hills Lions Club made a donation for the Nooriro Community Borehole, drilled just after Lions Day. In fact, Paul was with us when, at 150 meters, we hit water! The mission for each Lions Club is to serve others, and our friends from Pike Creek went above and beyond that calling to help the people in Nooriro get that much closer to having clean water available to them.

Borehole Projects in Progress

Not only did we begin a new borehole project in Nooriro, we also celebrated the Opening Ceremony for the Empalakai borehole in Rombo, Kajiado. Sakimba Parashina, a member of the Kenyan Parliament, was there for the ceremony. Also present was the choir from St. Francis Church in Karen, Nairobi—where Joyce sings. They celebrated with great gusto, singing hymns and bringing food to the women of Empalakai. The event also was featured on CitizenTV, the local Kenyan news station. With clean water now available, residents can come back to Empalakai and take advantage of their new local water source. A video of this event is available on Water is Life Kenya’s YouTube page.

We also installed a water pump for the borehole at Ilkisonko Boys High School which was drilled last year. This pump was purchased through the generosity of our Giving Tuesday donors, who helped us raise $15,000 in a single day. Many Maasai men have attended and graduated from Ilkisonko, and the school’s reputation has improved due to its strong, dedicated teachers. Now the borehole is not only benefiting the Ilkisonko students at staff, but also providing clean water to the surrounding community.

This month, construction at Nooriro has begun. Our contractor has been hard at work to lay the foundation for the water tank, pump house, pipelines, and latrines. Local people are benefitting from the work, too, as they’re hired and paid fairly as day laborers. The community is delighted to be building this well together!

Hope for Widows

It’s been a year since we implemented our Hope for Widows Pilot Program. Based on the results we’ve complied, we’ve learned so much about what we can do to help women who otherwise would have to beg for food and money to support their children.

After 7 training sessions, in November these widows were each were given $200 and three goats at the Goats and Grants Ceremony. Then they started their businesses in December, and we’ve been monitoring their progress to determine how we can make the program more effective in the future. Even during the worst part of the drought, 50-60% of the women used their new skills to both save money for food and school fees as well as invest more into their business. What a victory!

Recent Events

We’ve been all over the tristate area to spread the word about WILK! In March, we participated in the Faith Filled Women Conference in Salisbury, MD, bringing news—and beads!—to women from different churches in the area. We also took part in Dansko Ladies Night in West Grove, PA. It was fun to spend time with our friends at Dansko again and connect with the other community vendors that were there.

In April, we partnered with CoroAllegro for three nights of music and culture in their Around the World in 80 Minutes concerts. Our very own Joyce Tannian collaborated with the group and brought some Kenyan music to Newark and Wilmington. We also overcame the rain while under tents at University of Delaware’s AG Day event. Students, parents, professors, and Newark community members stopped by to learn more about how they can support our Maasai friends in Kenya, and hundreds of people walked away with beautiful Beaded Handicrafts. What’s better than spreading joy and hope on a rainy day? 

We also hosted our 7^th Thirst Reverse event in Newark, DE, as well as our 1^st in Ardmore, PA. Both events were at Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant locations. Thanks to their generosity—and the generosity of all our esteemed, Kenyan-Quench-drinking guests—we were able to raise funds to reboot our Livestock as a Business (LAB) program. Many people were excited to donate cows and goats to our Kenyan friends! We hope to take this event on the road again, branching out to new areas to reach even more people who would like to eat, grab a beer, and learn about our life-changing work.

Past and Present Special Campaigns

Last but not least, we’ve promoted several campaigns to help our Maasai friends deal with the drought that’s only recently let up. In September, October, and November, we brought food staples to both schools and families throughout Kajiado County. Then again in February, with the drought still in effect, we delivered more food to schools whose students were starving. In all, you, our donors, contributed $45,000 in food relief during the worst part of the drought.

During our time in Kenya, we saw just how many people, and especially women, suffered because of the drought. It impacted their ability to purchase food, pay school fees, and, in general, care for their families. So many children came to us for help because they just wanted to go back to school. We started our sponsorship program, Special Faces, Special Cases, to help support those who needed money for their school fees. We hope to sponsor as many children as we can so that they’ll get the education they want so much.

That brings us to the present! We hope you’ve enjoyed our summary of events and operations from the year so far. Please consider signing up for our bi-monthly WILK Wednesday newsletter at our new website so you can follow along in real time. And, as always, thank you for your continued support over the last fifteen years. None of this work would be possible without dedicated supporters like you.

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Life for Maasai women has never been easy. Even now, many women will remain uneducated, marry young (without choosing who they will marry), bear an average of six children, have full responsibility of their household and family, and stay fixed in a cycle of poverty. Because Maasai value cattle more highly than women, this is not an easy cycle to break. That’s why we’ve developed several programs and services specifically for those who are most in need of help.

Specifically, WILK empowers women by teaching them skills to develop into business people and diversify their business opportunities. By switching away from a reliance on livestock—which, during a drought, causes tremendous challenges—our programs help women by giving them entrepreneurship skills and teaching them to work collaboratively. In this way, the cycle of poverty can be overcome and, one day at a time, women can be uplifted.

First Comes Water

The most direct way to help Maasai women is to bring the water to them. One of the daily duties for a woman is to collect enough water for the day. Water is used to clean bodies and clothes, prepare meals, make tea for guests, and feed the animals. But finding water is a problem in such an arid region. Often women must walk for hours just to find water, and then they have to turn around and carry it back to their settlement. Water is found in low-lying areas, so that journey home literally is an uphill climb.

Our WASH projects bring water to these women, saving them hours of time and labor. This gives women a chance to start their own businesses (more on that later) so that they can make and, more importantly, save money. Also, girls who used to accompany their mothers on these water-seeking trips have a better chance of going to school. The water collected from the boreholes is clean, which prevents water-borne diseases in people and their livestock and controls the spread of diseases through handwashing. Because “water is life” for the Maasai, we can help these women have a better quality of life by reducing their burdens.

Taking Ownership Through Building Businesses

Men in Maasai communities have been far from home with their cattle as they search for water during a three-year-long drought. Therefore, the onus of taking care of children falls on the women left behind. That includes paying both borehole and school fees. Widows have a more difficult time generating income since they’re at the bottom of the social totem pole. Fortunately, some women can build on Maasai cultural strengths, like livestock-keeping and beadwork. They also learn to think like business owners and generate more profit based on their location and circumstances.

We started our LAB (Livestock as a Business) program to help Maasai learn new strategies for raising livestock, including cows, goats, and sheep, and managing the drought cycle. We also provide loans and teach them to manage their money and create higher earnings. That money can be used to reinvest in more cattle as well as pay for education costs. We have trained more than 400 women in our LAB program, empowering many of them to own and manage their own livestock for the first time.

Maasai also have a tradition of making beaded handicrafts. Our artisans can make paper beads or glass-beaded jewelry, ornaments, and accessories. When we buy beads directly, artisans are paid upfront—they don’t need to wait for tourists to stop at their villages. When we sell beads on our website, the money goes back into future water projects and other programs we have to support women in Kenya.

We began the Hope for Widows Program specifically to help widows start businesses that help them pay for daily expenses they cannot afford. These businesses range from selling clothing and beads for tourists to preparing and selling food to people in their community. This provides widows with greater autonomy so that they aren’t begging for food and money like they used to do.

Special Cases

In spite of all the ways we try to help, we can’t overcome every obstacle. With a prolonged drought, Maasai women had more obstacles to overcome. Without water, people and animals can’t thrive. The search for water gets longer, which prevents women from generating income through business. Tourism stalls. Schools are empty. The cycle of poverty remains intact.

Until the seasonal rains come back, women still need our help. We’ve started the Special Faces, Special Cases sponsorship program to help as many women and children get through the drought. The best way out of poverty is through education, and donors can sponsor children by covering school expenses that Maasai women can’t afford. Eventually, those children will grow up with a renewed sense of self and purpose as well as knowledge they can use to rise out of poverty.

Women Helping Women

When we help women, we support each other. It doesn’t matter if those women live down the road or in Kajiado County. It’s important for us to empower each other in whatever ways we can. We at WILK will continue to think of new ideas that support Maasai women and encourage them to gain skills and gain confidence in order to improve their lives.

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Water is Life Kenya (WILK) has brought clean water to Kajiado County for more than fifteen years. Ours is not the only organization that facilitates water projects in Kenya, but our boreholes are successful for a reason. Let’s go over the steps we take when we choose to drill a borehole and why our methods work.

Drilling the Borehole

Several steps must be taken before a borehole can be drilled. It actually starts with talking to people who ask us for help. Community leaders approach us frequently, but we have to determine if there’s a real need for the well first. Then we survey community members to make sure they, too, are committed to maintaining the well; they have to elect their own well management team and contribute some money towards the project to reinforce their investment.

This is where our donors come in. As we set up hydrogeological surveys and seek drilling permission from the Kenyan government, we ask for help since the community cannot afford all of the costs for such a huge project. The generosity of our donors never fails to humble us, and we’re always grateful that so many people contribute to offset those costs.

The entire community gathers for the next part of the process, since this is proof that their water challenges are being addressed. Drilling can take 3-5 days because the water quality has to be tested and we have to make sure the borehole will generate enough water for the community. After the assessment, the rest of the infrastructure is built around the borehole and the elected committee is trained. Finally, after about a year, the handover ceremony takes place and the community celebrates having access to clean water.

A Holistic Approach

Just because installation is complete doesn’t mean we’re done. What separates WILK from other organizations is our holistic approach to water management. Many other organizations leave after the well’s dug, but we continue to monitor the well, even ten years later, to ensure the success of each project.

We also provide additional training programs to ensure that the community can afford to maintain the borehole. Our Livestock as a Business program (LAB), for example, is one we began so that the community’s main source of income (cattle) generates enough to pay the fees and other costs associated with the well. Our Hope for Widows program has a similar goal. Women are vital to successful borehole maintenance, and the program teaches them how to generate income for such purposes.

“We don’t just enter a community, drill a well, then leave,” WILK Co-Founder Joyce Tannian says. “We plan for the future. The result is a truly sustainable system where the water stays on.”

Every Day is World Water Day

WILK has spearheaded 27 water projects for Maasai communities in Kajiado South and Central, bringing clean water to 80,000 people. After fifteen years, about 85% are still operational because of the holistic approach we bring to each project. With the help of our donors, we’ll keep thinking of ways to provide water to communities still suffering from a three-year-long drought. It’s just one step towards “accelerating change,” but it’s evidence of our daily commitment to improving the lives of our friends in Kenya.

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