Location
Malava, Central Kabras Division, Kakamega North District, Kakamega County, Kenya
Community Description
Malava is in the Western part of Kenya. It is about 3 hours north of Lake Victoria and 2 hours east of the Ugandan border. It is almost equidistant to the large towns of Webuye and Kakamega and is right off the highway that connects the two.
Malava is the largest town in the area and serves as the hub for all surrounding towns. The population is currently about 15,000 and is rapidly growing.
This part of Kenya is the land of the Luhya Tribe. The Luhyas are known for being very peaceful and welcoming to all guests.
Over 80% of its citizens practice small-scale, subsistence farming. The most common crops grown are corn and sugar cane.
Nine months out of the year it rains almost daily while the other three are completely dry. Nearly everyone struggles to find both food and water during the dry season.
Problem Addressed
The Muting’ong’o Health Center has limited access to clean water. They are currently forced to pay a laborer to bring water from a nearby stream. This compromises the quality of care they can provide and adds a financial burden to an already limited budget.
Project Description
This project seeks to build a rainwater catchment system for the health center.
A local craftsman will be commissioned to fit stainless steel gutters to the roof. These will funnel rainwater to a 2,500-liter tank which
will sit on a brick and cement stand, also built by the craftsman.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the tank, gutters, and other materials, and to pay the craftsman.
The community will be in charge of maintenance of the system and unskilled labor, such as hauling bricks for the stand.
Project Impact
The health center serves a population of about 3,000 who will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Charles Sexton
Comments
The rainwater catchment system will provide sustainable access to clean, safe water to enable the health center to carry out its mission.
Charles previously completed the St. Joseph the Worker Home for the Mentally Challenged Borehole Project – Kenya.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$0.00
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights”, if that is something you would like.
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of the Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$555.00
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.