Thanks to everybody who contributed. The water tank was delivered to the orphanage on Monday (June 11th). Here is the latest email from Tobias:

Dear Veronica,

Thanks for the info. We purchased the water tank and materials and delivered to Children Rescue Mission on 11th as planned. I also took some photoes of the process (I’ll e-mail these probably tomorrow). Unfortunately the officials we invited did not come. The President of the country was in Kisumu the same day and the guests changed their plans in the 11th hour. Otherwise it was big exitement to the children and to Agnes, the caretaker when they saw the tank. It was hope for great relief considering that during dry seasons, Agnes and even George had to make 4 kms trek to fetch water for use at the centre. I’ll send to you more notes with the photoes. Otherwise best regards for now.

Tobias

I will post the photos for you as soon as I get them.

Report by Tobias Ounga, 18th June 2007

Availability of clean water for domestic use has been a major problem to CRM since its establishment in 2005. In the beginning, the only two workers at the centre had to walk to springs about 2 kms away to fetch water, making a total to- and fro- journey of 4 km.

The springs are found in deep valleys of the hilly area and this makes the return journey quite heavy as it requires a hill climb on a steep slope. The amount of water carried per trip is 20 liters mostly in a plastic container. During dry seasons, the springs are over crowded and one has to queue over 5 hours to get water. Therefore only little water can be fetched and this is then used for drinking and cooking. The water used for other purposes is usually dirty and unhygienic posing a great health danger to children maintained at the center. The spring water is also not clean and is suspected to be infested by intestinal worms, microorganisms and other parasites from contamination by runoffs from surrounding higher grounds where locals usually defecate, urinate, bathe and discard other wastes.

The CRM children have frequently been treated for skin diseases, intestinal infections and parasitic infestations mainly attributable to inadequate and poor quality water.

Despite scarcities of water in the area and for the center, the areas receive bi-annual rainfall of about 1500 mm. This is received from March to June and from August to October.

The water problem was therefore presented to GlobalEyes with a request for solution through equipping CRM with a 6,000 liter PVC water tank. This, in addition to the earlier acquired 2500 liter PVC tank would capture water during rainy seasons and store throughout most if not whole of the dry season.

A total of Kshs 35,000 was received from GlobalEyes on 23rd May 2007 towards the purchase of the water tank and accessories (water harvesting roof gutters, roof hooks, tap and nails).

The tank was purchased on 11th June 2007 and delivered to CRM. The tank purchased is a 5000 liter water tank and costed Kshs 30,000. This allowed for the other Kshs 4,000 to be used for the accessories and transport (Kshs 1,000 was deducted by bank as commission). There was great Jubilation by the children and the caretakers when they saw the vehicle bringing the tank. The Children had just come from school and eagerly wanted to be involved at every stage of the unloading. Unfortunately, officials who had been invited to preside over the presentation of the tank changed their plans at the final hour and apologized for not being available to turn up.

With the availability of the water tank it is expected that: -

• the risks of intestinal parasites, intestinal infections, skin diseases and other conditions of poor health will be reduced,

• more attention will be accorded to the children because the caretakers will be more available,

• performance of the children at school will improve due to less distractions by poor health,

• the children will have better psychological wellbeing due to better health and more time for recreation,

• there will be positive motivation to the caretakers due to relieved workload,

• there will be more time for the caretakers to be involved in small scale food generation (kitchen garden vegetable cultivation) at the center.

Photos from Tobias: