Funded by Pittsburgh Children's Foundation, The Samburu Project will drill and install a shallow well equipped with a handpump in this community.

Narrative

The distance this community currently walks for water is very far. There are reported cases of waterborne diseases in this community caused by the consumption of dry water from hand-dug wells.

The community will benefit from a reduced distance to the water point, women's health will improve (back issues, miscarriage) and children will have enough time to attend school.

The well water will be used for farming, domestic purposes and livestock.

As seen in the photos that accompany the Site Survey Questionnaire, this community currently gets water from a 10-ft. deep hand-dug well. Two weeks ago, a community member accidentally fell into the hole and seriously injured his spine. He is still undergoing treatment at the Catholic Hospital Wamba.

Their current water source is the Ewaso Nyiro River, 8 km away from the village.

  • Stephanie Ng of The Samburu Project
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: completed Fri 25 May 2012, Almost 12 Years ago

    Stephanie Ng's Visit- May 2012

    We arrived at the well to find many women and children taking water from the well. Lucas had no problem of finding someone at this well who was willing to answer our questions. In fact, Monica Leikaru was eager to share numerous stories of how this well has changed her life and everyone in her community. I could tell by Lucas’ expression that many of these incidents were ones he had never heard before which made the impact that much greater for all of us present.

    Monica began by saying thank you to The Samburu Project for bringing this well to their community. They are all very happy because they used to have to go many kilometers to find water which took the entire day. Highlighting the dangers of finding water before, Monica recalled an incidence when they were gathering water from a deep hand dug well. One day, one of the ladies from her community actually fell down the well and broke her spinal cord. To this day she is disabled because of that fall. Before this well, many women would come to the riverbed to find water from these shallow wells and because it took a long time for each woman to painstakingly scoop the water and fill their 20 liter jerry can, not everyone had a chance to gather water while it was still light out. As a result, many of the women would have to come out at night and they would bring the warriors with them because wild animals also took water from these holes and there was oftentimes conflict between the animals and the people. But now that they have this well, the women are very happy and incredibly relieved.

    She ended by blessing us and telling Lucas that she would pray for us (the people that brought this well), that God may help us to have more money so that we can help other people.

    There was no issue with the well and I witnessed all of the jerrycans being filled quickly and with ease.

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  • Impact Assessment (M&E) Phase Project completed on 3 Nov, 2011 Implementation Phase
  • Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu Project
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: in_progress Mon 17 Oct 2011, Over 12 Years ago

    Water Hit!

    After a VERY long wait with permit slow downs and drilling rig breakdowns, this community saw water struck today at 31 meters!!! They drilled as far as 65 meters before days' end. Looks like these folks will be drinking water in no time!

  • Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu Project
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: in_progress Wed 03 Aug 2011, Over 12 Years ago

    Red Tape in Well Drilling

    When Lucas went to the Water Resource Management Authority to pick up permits for our 10 wells, he first learned that the office was no longer in Nanyuki but had moved to Isiolo. When he finally arrived in Isiolo he was met with many challenges. For our previous four well drills, we have always produced the Hydrogeological Reports, an application and wrote a check and permits were given on the spot. Not this time! Not until this morning, 21 days after Lucas' initial visit to the WRMA, did we actually receive permission to begin drilling (still waiting for permits!).

    Lucas had to go back to EVERY community and get titles for the land we are drilling on. The challenging aspect of this is that no one "owns" the land in Samburu as it is the land of the community. He wrote agreements with the area chiefs, area counselors and key elders which stated that they were donating the land to the designated women’s group. When he went back to the WRMA with the Title Deeds, they then told him that he had to get a Constitution from EVERY women's group!!! Fortunately, Naibosho Women's Group in Wamba, an umbrella organization has representatives from all of the area's women’s groups. Instead of going back to ALL the communities again, he was able to use their Constitution. And lastly, a new association called the Water Resource User Authority has been formed. Lucas had to get three members of their committee to sign a letter saying that The Samburu Project has done a good job. Unfortunately, the three people who needed to sign live in three different places; Laikepia, Maralal and Archer’s Post which caused major logistical challenges.

    After Lucas spent week gathering the necessary materials and return to the WRMA office in Isiolo, it turns out that the person who is in charge was away for some time. Then, when he returned yesterday, after Lucas spent three days waiting for him, the computers in the office were down.

    All part of the adventures in well drilling...onward and upward!

  • Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu Project
    • confidential
    Implementation Status: in_progress Tue 19 Jul 2011, Over 12 Years ago

    Site Selection DAY 1

    After surveying 5 locations, a viable well site was located. Below is an email sent from Lucas on July 20, 2011, referring to the attached photos, regarding this community:

    Kristen...

    "I cried when I saw how difficult it was for this woman to get water. She had to wait for more than 4 hours to fill a 20litres gallon and walk up to 4kms away to her home. however we managed to get a site near her village."

    Lucas

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  • Implementation Phase Project started on 19 Jul, 2011 Preparation Phase

Funded by Pittsburgh Children's Foundation, The Samburu Project will drill and install a shallow well equipped with a handpump in this community.

Narrative

The distance this community currently walks for water is very far. There are reported cases of waterborne diseases in this community caused by the consumption of dry water from hand-dug wells.

The community will benefit from a reduced distance to the water point, women's health will improve (back issues, miscarriage) and children will have enough time to attend school.

The well water will be used for farming, domestic purposes and livestock.

As seen in the photos that accompany the Site Survey Questionnaire, this community currently gets water from a 10-ft. deep hand-dug well. Two weeks ago, a community member accidentally fell into the hole and seriously injured his spine. He is still undergoing treatment at the Catholic Hospital Wamba.

Their current water source is the Ewaso Nyiro River, 8 km away from the village.

Impact

People Impacted: 540

People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 540

140 Households @ 5 people per house
Data Source: Community Elders & Local Government

School Children Getting Water: 63

Lolparuai ECCD Primary School

People Getting Sanitation: 540

Improved sanitation has been an ancillary benefit of community water availability.

People Getting Other Benefits: 540

Water is the foundation from which all things grow. We expect that this community will receive many benefits beyond access to clean, safe drinking water.

Funding

funded:
$13,000
Community:
$1,850
Final Cost:
$14,850

Plan/Proposal