A story from Kirkby Stephen to Kenya

Fun fundraising to provide access to clean water

For Kibera Girls  Academy (KGSA) in the Nairobi slums, Kenya there has been the need for the provision of reliable access to clean water for the school and surrounding community, aiming to make the school more self-sufficient and resilient.

Meanwhile on a very warm and sunny day in May, Rotarians and friends from Upper Eden, North Cumbria held an Aperol spritz and strawberries event and Auction of Promises at the beautiful Winton Park Gardens with permission of the owners.  Nearly 100 people spent the afternoon in the garden followed by the refreshments. The Auction of Promises proved to be the usual entertainment with bidders encouraging each other to raise the stakes. 

 As a result over £3000 was raised.  In addition Appleby and Brampton & Longtown Rotary donated £500 each to support the fundraiser.

This has resulted in Upper Eden Rotary taking another leap forward in its support for the Kibera Girls  Academy (KGSA) in the Nairobi slums, Kenya, as the long-anticipated drilling of a borehole officially commenced this year.

This exciting development is part of a wider effort to provide reliable access to clean water for the school and surrounding community, aiming to make the school more self-sufficient and resilient. The first phase of the project has been focused on exploratory work and site assessments, culminating in the selection of a contractor—Trevcon—to undertake the borehole drilling.

Pictures from Nairobi showed the rig arriving onsite and the first drill bit being installed as the work began. These capture the enthusiasm on the ground and gives a powerful visual insight into what Rotary support makes possible.

This Rotary-supported initiative forms part of the club’s long-standing partnership with KGSA, and builds on continued fundraising efforts, including the successful Winton Park Garden Party. Phase 2 of the project, now underway, will involve selecting and installing a suitable solar-powered pump and distribution system. The Rotary lead engineers are reviewing technical aspects, including energy needs, pump specifications, and long-term sustainability.

Upper Eden Rotary continues to liaise closely with the team on the ground and with other Worldwide supporting clubs, with further updates planned as installation progresses. The club anticipates that the new water system will not only meet the daily needs of students and staff but will also serve neighbouring families in the wider Kibera community.