Latest from Kenya - Borewell Status

The project is now roaring ahead with work having started on the final two wells, after we overcame setbacks which regrettably slowed the project down in the past few months for two reasons.

The borewells dug at Kathaari and Nyagari primary schools suddenly ran dry and further investigation discovered that the well had only reached a stream of water running above rock, and consequently it had run dry.  The rock had to be removed and the well drilled deeper to the water table, leading to an overspend on both wells.  However, there was sufficient in the project funds to cover this setback.

We’ve taken some time to reconcile the figures to be certain how much money was needed to complete the wells in progress and fund the final two additional borewells.  Headteacher Lucy Mbogo, and Rtn Ruth Ndwiga are very diligent in producing tracking sheets for us, and they are excellent at responding to our queries if we have been unable to reconcile figures.

Two Dedicated Ladies

We have been fortunate to have been partnered with these two ladies who both work full-time but have dedicated their spare time to the project.

We are now happy with the reconciliation process and the good news is that now we have also received the long-awaited District Grant.  This means we have been able to send a further Ks800,000 (approx £5,250) to the Rotary Club of Embu for the additional two schools to have borewells, making ten in all - four more than we thought we could deliver when we embarked on the project with the pilot borewell in December 2018.

Amazing work everyone!

Global Handwashing Day

October 15 was Global Handwashing Day, an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.  It’s a most cost-effective ways to prevent many infectious diseases, and is a demonstrable no-regrets investment.   An OECD study reports that $1 invested in hand hygiene may bring a $15 reduction in health expenditure. Over the past five years, 300,000 people per day gained access to basic handwashing facilities. That’s half a billion people.

One study found that regular handwashing with soap can reduce COVID-19 infection by 36% and another, that handwashing before touching your face may reduce infection by 2-30%.

ENA Primary School

This year’s theme was “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together,” calling for coordinated action towards universal hand hygiene. It is endorsed by the government, International Institutions, NGOs, Private Sectors etc. 

Embu Rotary Club marked the day at ENA Primary School.  In partnership with Uniliver Kenya, it donated hand washing soap to each pupil and a bottle of sanitizer to each teacher.

Marking the day would have been a challenge without running water from the borewell as the objective was to demonstrate the steps of hand washing using this water.  The borewells project has enabled the schools to have much needed running water well distributed in the school with hand washing points that are strategic and easily accessible.

Apart from the hand washing demonstration and soap donation, the Rotary club members, Ena Primary Headteacher Mrs Lucy Mbogo, and teachers in charge of the 4A Club and agriculture, and the senior pupils planted 100 fruit trees.