: African Indigenous Women's Organization

Discussion Forum

By Boda Boda Initiatives Posted on Thu 02 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Water Issues

By Boda Boda Initiatives Posted on Mon 06 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Welcome tp PWX.
Your organization seems massive judging by the amount of money spent on non water issues.It is surprising that an organisation dealing with women has not dealt with water issues previously but we are happy that you are now willing to join us.
We are keen to see your answer on the questions posted by Gemma which are pertinent and to the point.
Beatrice

Doing great so far!

By Global Women's Water Initiative Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Hi Georgina and Yvonne,
You two are doing a terriffic job so far learning how PWX works and actively participating! Keep up the good communication and we will try to help you work through any challenges you are having.
How's the construction for the protected spring in Trans Mara coming along? I am eager to hear more reports on that project! As you might know Gemma and I were able to visit there with Lucy last fall.
Take care and I am here to help in any way I can.
Mariah

Doing great so far!

By Global Women's Water Initiative Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

WELCOME!

By A Single Drop Posted on Thu 02 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Hello sisters

I'm so glad to see that you are ready to join us on PWX!

I just wanted to ask a few questions about your work if I may.

Can you tell me when you decided to focus on water projects and what was the catalyst that started you thinking about starting a water program?

Also, I know you are in the early stages of developing your water program, but can you tell us briefly how you are going to roll out your strategy?

Looking forward!

In sisterhood
Gemma

WELCOME!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Mon 06 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Reply to the questions by Gemma

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Tue 07 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Hi all,
We decided to focus on water projects after the women and water conference held in Nairobi in the year 2008. During that conference several issues regarding water and women and water were brought out which we decided to address. Among these issues was that women are the ones who are most affected by the effects of climate change like water shortage. This is because women and moreso indigenous women have to travel over long distances to look for water. In the course of that search for water, they are prone to being raped and even to the conflicts among the pastoralist group of the indigenous peoples. This conflicts arise among these communities because you find that there is only a single source of water and so they have fight over it.

Inaddition most water catchment areas in indigenous community areas are polluted because even animals use the same water and so the women end up fetching the same contaminated water which is unsafe for consumption.

Therefore the need to separate the area for water access to people and animals made us think of starting a water program. Further, the need to reduce women's workload so that they don't have to waste alot of time looking for water but to also focus on other income generating activiities was a reason for us starting this programm.

Our strategy has been identifying water catchment areas in indigenous peoples areas that need to be conserved and protected and consulting communities on their water needs. We have also been working in consultation with women and other organised groups from communities that express the need for conserving their water sources.

We also want to train women on harvesting rain water using gutters and planting of trees in each homestead.

Thank you

Yvonne and Georgina.

Reply to the questions by Gemma

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Tue 07 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

We also want to train women on harvesting rain water using gutters and planting of trees in each homestead.

Thank you

Yvonne and Georgina.

Water Issues

By Boda Boda Initiatives Posted on Mon 06 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Re: Water Issues

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Tue 07 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Was good to read about all your work.

Beatrice has brought up an interesting point. Do you have other organizations working in the areas where you work and do any of them do water projects?

If yes, maybe its better to partner with them than create a water program within your organization. At least build on their expertise.

Regards,
Rajesh

Re: Water Issues

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Rajesh,

We have other organisations that we partner with but not on issues relating with water.

With regard to water issues we offer trainings to community groups for example we are currently supporting Emayian women group from Transmara in building a water source protection and help them construct piped water.

Regards
Georgina and Yvonne.

Re: Water Issues

By Global Women's Water Initiative Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

I will just add some insight that I gained from visiting AIWO and talking with them more in depth. The inclusion of a water program in their work seems very logical. They have been working on issues of environment and conservation with indigenous people trying to work with them to identify problems and find solutions that include traditional as well more modern (for lack of a better word) strategies. As they have replied the water issues they have identified in the communities they work in are an integral issue when talking about the environment The approach they have taken with the Emayian group so far is impressive.

I think what will be interesting to learn more about it how AIWO plans to carry out the program. Gemma asked this question and I think you answered the question well about WHAT the strategy is, but you could give a little more detail about HOW you will implement this strategy, as well as explaining a little more what they have done in Transmara so far.

Mariah

Re: Water Issues

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Wed 15 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thanks Mariah,

Inaddition to our earlier reply on what has been going on in Transmara, the Emayian group is now meeting with the whole community to discuss and get a consensus on where to put a tank that can be accessed by everyone during the drought seasons.

Our trainings are continuous and apart from the women, we also include the community elders and the youth in training them on water conservation because for the pastoralist communities, what is of priority is their livestock and not safe water and so there is need to involve both genders.

Just to get back to the comment Beatrice had made earlier that it is suprising that as an organisation dealing with women we have never dealt with water issues, thanks for partly responding to that comment but inaddition, looking back at our past programs i have realised that we have been mainstreaming water issues in some of our programs. For example we have women groups in Marsabit that we have trained to pull water from the source to biodiversity centres where they keep that water in tanks and sell the water at almost nothing as a source of income.

We train them to pull water to biodiversity centres because that is where everyone can easily access the water and besides most of the homes of pastoralist people are very far apart. When you visit those groups now you will find that they have planted vegetables and so the village is green in the middle of a desert because of pulling water. If you are interested we could send you some pictures on the situation as it was before pulling the water and as it is now.

Nevertheless water harvesting is still a problem in Marsabit because there is normally no rainfall, maybe just once in a year.

Regards Georgina and Yvonne

Re: Water Issues

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Rajesh,

We have other organisations that we partner with but not on issues relating with water.

Regards
Georgina and Yvonne.

Re: Water Issues

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Rajesh,

We have other organisations that we partner with but not on issues relating with water.

Regards
Georgina and Yvonne.

Re: Water Issues

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Rajesh,

We have other organisations that we partner with but not on issues relating with water.

Regards
Georgina and Yvonne.

Doing great so far!

By Global Women's Water Initiative Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Mariah,

Regarding the protected spring in Transmara, we have finished the construction of the water source barriers and cattle water trough. So far the community have their own water fetching point separate from that of their livestock. Currently we are trying to put up taps at a specified area for easier accessibility of clean water by the whole community.

Regards,
Yvonne and Georgina

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Mariah,

Regards,
Yvonne and Georgina

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Mariah,

Regards,
Yvonne and Georgina

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Mariah,

Regards,
Yvonne and Georgina

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Doing great so far!

By African Indigenous Women's Organization Posted on Thu 09 Apr 2009, over 15 years ago

Thank you Mariah,

Regarding the construction of the protected spring in Transmara, we have finished the construction of water source barriers and a cattle trough. Atleast now the community can have their water fetching points separate from that of their livestock. Currently we are trying to put up taps at a particular area for easier accessibility of clean water by the community.

Regards,
Yvonne and Georgina.