Funded by Ryan's Well Foundation, The Samburu Project will drill and install a shallow well equipped with a handpump in the Sordo Namunyak community.
Narrative
In the Sordo Namunyak community, women and children walk up to 8 km in search of water. Children do not attend school as they are following their mothers in this quest for water. Waterborne diseases are common in this community.
The community will benefit from a well in a number of ways: enhancement of livelihoods through farming, access to water for domestic purposes as well as livestock, educational opportunities as children will have time to go to school, and time for women to engage in other businesses and take care of their children.
The well will also provide a wonderful community meeting point.
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Stephanie Ng of The Samburu ProjectImplementation Status: completed Sat 12 May 2012, Over 12 Years ago
Stephanie Ng's Visit- May 2012
When we visited the well only three warriors were there, resting under a tree near the well. Two of these warriors are the same warriors in the picture entitled "Warriors Await Water." Although the warriors did not know how many people lived in town or how many children go to school, they were able to tell us that women used to walk 6 hours each day to find water. Now, it only takes a few seconds to a couple of minutes for people to come get safe, clean drinking water. With the time saved women now engage in economically viable projects (go into town, do trading, sell livestock) and are able to look after and care for their animals. Before when they would have to walk far distances to find water, they would have to leave the animals with the younger boys but the boys were not trained on how to properly take care of the animals. Therefore, it is always better to have the older people take care of them especially since goats are very valued in this society and is a huge source of money for the households.
The water from this well is slightly salty but still good for human consumption. The warriors said that the slight salinity in the water great for the animals. Despite it being slightly salty for human beings, the community is incredibly grateful to have such a clean and reliable water source near by. The warriors note that this well has really changed the lives of everyone in the community for the better.
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jackie jennings-batesImplementation Status: completed Thu 27 Oct 2011, About 13 Years ago
rally4life visits Sordo Namanyuk Well
The local people love their new ell, they now have time to go into town or graze their animals, It was quiet but they tend to fetch water early in the morning or in the evening, not midday. This well is about 50 ft deep and can give 30,000 gall per day.
- Impact Assessment (M&E) Phase Project completed on 5 Sep, 2011 Implementation Phase
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Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu ProjectImplementation Status: in_progress Sat 27 Aug 2011, Over 13 Years ago
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Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu ProjectImplementation Status: in_progress Fri 26 Aug 2011, Over 13 Years ago
Well Drilling Begins
Well Drilling began in Sordo Namunyak on Friday, August 26th. The community was very excited. We spent a lot of time speaking to people and hearing their stories. One Mzee asked me if it was REALLY true that they were going to get water. I told him that we would not have spent all the money we did to get the drilling there if we didn't think there was water.
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Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu ProjectImplementation Status: in_progress Wed 03 Aug 2011, Over 13 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!
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Kristen Kosinski of The Samburu ProjectImplementation Status: in_progress Thu 07 Jul 2011, Over 13 Years ago
- Implementation Phase Project started on 7 Jul, 2011 Preparation Phase
Funded by Ryan's Well Foundation, The Samburu Project will drill and install a shallow well equipped with a handpump in the Sordo Namunyak community.
Narrative
In the Sordo Namunyak community, women and children walk up to 8 km in search of water. Children do not attend school as they are following their mothers in this quest for water. Waterborne diseases are common in this community.
The community will benefit from a well in a number of ways: enhancement of livelihoods through farming, access to water for domestic purposes as well as livestock, educational opportunities as children will have time to go to school, and time for women to engage in other businesses and take care of their children.
The well will also provide a wonderful community meeting point.
Sustainability
Creating and measuring long-term impact
A well committee has been established to create and maintain a community fund, ensure proper management of the well, and communicate with TSP if any issues arise.
Other Issues
Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution
During site selection, members of the greater community were in dispute as to where the well should be located as each group wanted the well to be close to their own homes. They ultimately agreed upon a central location for the well.
Impact
People Impacted: 2400
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 2400
480 Households @ 5 people per house
Data Source: Community Elders & Local Government
School Children Getting Water: 163
Loipi Preschool
People Getting Sanitation: 2400
Improved sanitation has been an ancillary benefit of community water availability.
People Getting Other Benefits: 2400
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.