This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Brittany Werkheiser.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build a rainwater catchment and storage system at the primary school.
Brittany reports:
Kidumfa Primary School was thrilled to have a water tank brought to them on February 28th, 2013. “Being isolated is not easy for a village of displaced persons,” the headmaster said “and we are so thankful to you and Water Charity for this gift.”
When I last visited the village, the school had just set the foundation for the tank and it was not dry when I arrived. I was then obligated to leave my home site for security reasons during the presidential elections. I have since returned to my site, but road conditions to the community during the rainy season make it impossible for me to reach Kidumfa at this time.
I have since learned that the tank was fully installed and the system is currently functioning well and collecting rainwater.
Kidumfa village is home to nearly 650 displaced persons who had to flee their homeland, in Northern Kenya, during the last presidential elections in 2007. Although the land is fertile and they are situated next to a large lake, they are not granted to use the land as they please. This along with the difficult access to the village because of undeveloped roads, makes it very difficult for the village to receive adequate funds, and more importantly it is hard for public health officers and volunteers to visit and hold health education seminars.
For all these reasons I decided to use this visit to hold a health information day. I was accompanied by Community Health Workers who led discussions on health and hygiene at the household level, and I taught 60+ girls how to make reusable sanitary pads. Our hope is that this education will raise the health standard of the village and with sanitary products the girls will not have to miss as much school every month.
Thank you for this opportunity. I know that I can speak for the village when I say that Water Charity was a much needed reprieve, and with access to clean water for drinking, cooking and also watering their nutrition gardens, I have no doubt that the community feels greatly blessed and benefited.
We are grateful to Brittany for completing excellent this project.
