May 4, 2012

The Light of Kyamithenge

“We named the group Taa wa Kyamithenge, because “Taa” means Light. We believe we will be light in our area by doing the worthy project of water.”

Taa Wa Kyamithenge (pronounced Cha me tenge), one of WEI’s newest partner groups, is a group of 35 women from Kyamithenge village in eastern Kenya.  The group heard about WEI water projects from Kitithini Women’s Group in a neighboring village.  At once, they saw it as a worthy project for their group and for women like them in search of clean water.

In Their Own Words

…they describe the problems they are striving to solve.  “The major problem affecting our area is that we don’t get enough rain. We have two dams which dry up quickly due to high temperatures.  After they dry up we travel a long distance, 6 kilometers, to the river where we dig in the sand to get water, and the water we get there is salty.  The water is also dirty because animals use it too.  Because of that, water borne diseases continue increasing year after year and medical care is expensive for the majority of us.”

The time involved searching for water impacts the women and consumes the time their children have to study.  “When we go to the river, we wait in line with others also coming for water.  You can wait (in line) for up to two days just to fill a 20 liter Jerican of water.  Children are at school during the day, so we are forced to send them to fetch water at night, which is risky for girls.  Some get pregnant and the problems keep increasing in our homes.  Water is a problem for the old and the sick too, especially those who cannot go to the river and cannot afford to employ someone to go for them.”

The Hope of Kyamithenge

The group weaves sisal rope to contribute to the tank fund.

The group’s goal is for each family to have enough water for domestic use and for watering their kitchen gardens, small gardens where they grow vegetables for the family, and to sell at market.  As they work together and save for their tanks, they are building concrete bases for the tanks and shade structures to protect the tanks from the sun.  These shade structures help ensure the tank will last the full 30 years of it’s expected life.

The group has earned enough so far to purchase five water tanks.  These tanks are installed and full of water.  When complete, the water project will benefit 330 of the village’s 600 people.

The women hope that their project will be an inspiration to other women in the area.  “We expect that after working together and getting tanks, other women will envy the water we have and do the same project!”

Proceeds from this year’s Walk for Water in Seattle will match the group’s five tanks with five more.  It is our hope and prayer that they will be purchased and installed before the rains end later this month.

Photo Credits:  Krities McLean
Theresa Schulz Norris
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May 3, 2012

The Rains Have Come!

The rains have come and water tanks across the countryside are full of life-giving water!

Gracie, WEI-Kenya Executive Director, wrote us last week and said, “It is pouring cats and dogs and it has been doing so every day! Only a few places have not had rain, and it is our prayer that they too will get it soon.  Although the rains came very late, they are heavy and most water tanks are full of water. We are very thankful because the situation had really gotten bad.  There was a lot of suffering because of lack of water everywhere.”

What a joy to know that over 1,000 families are harvesting the rain and will have a source of clean water through the coming dry season from June to October.