Clean Water Kenya Project #49672

Give reliable fresh water to 2,500 Kenyan children

by Rotary Club of Billericay

Project Report | Jul 27, 2021
Goal exceeded! On schedule for 10 wells by October

By Les Sheppard | President, Rotary Club of Billericay

Water flows at Canon Herbert Ikuura Primary School

Since our last report we have completed three more wells at Nyagari, Kathaari and Karungu Primary Schools and the eighth well at Kathanjuri Primary School is nearing completion. We had hoped to have these wells complete by May but the rainy season delayed progress. Also we had to revisit two of the wells and dig a little deeper to keep the pump in adequate contact with the water table.

We reported last time that we would have enough funds to dig a ninth well. We are now pleased to report that in addition to our own fundraising we have secured a matching Rotary Foundation District Grant that will enable us to dig a tenth well. These wells will be dug at Kathunguri and Ndumari Primary Schools.

This has been a highly successful project, going way beyond our original target of providing six wells. When all ten wells are complete about 3,000 children will have access to free, clean, fresh water every day. We could not have completed the project without the help of our partners in Kenya and we would like to take this opportunity to record formally our thanks to them.

We will be closing the project at the end of July as we have now raised all the funds we need. We expect to receive the Rotary Foundation grant in August and expect to complete the final two wells by October. If you would like to follow progress on the final two wells, check our club website, http://www.billericayrotary.org.

Thank you very much for supporting us, whether you have made a one-off donation or have been giving each month to the project. Do look out for our next project!

Digging at Nyagari Primary School

Water tank at Kurungu Primary School

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Mar 29, 2021
Four wells complete, two in progress and two to come!

By Les Shepppard | Secretary, Rotary Club of Billericay

Water flowing at Magaca Primary School

The photograph above shows Lucy, (Headteacher of Ena Primary School and Schools Coordinator for the project), Rotarian Peter (in charge of projects for the Rotary Club of Embu), Linus (Headteacher of Magaca Primary School) and Robert (the borewell digger) inspecting the water flowing at Magaca Primary School. This is the third well we have dug and was completed towards the end of February.

Thanks to your generosity and that of other supporters, in December’s Accelerator campaign we raised over $17,000 in donations, prizes, bonuses and Gift Aid. Adding this to the funds we already had means we have raised enough money to dig all eight originally planned wells, plus sufficient extra to enable us to dig a further well and set aside a reserve fund for routine maintenance and repairs to keep these wells working for many years into the future. We have so far sent funds for six wells to our partner in Kenya, the Rotary Club of Embu (see photograph below), and they have been supervising and monitoring the digging of the wells, ensuring the money is well spent.

The digging has not always gone smoothly. At Magaca the first well site hit rock which could not be safely and economically cut through and so a second site was identified which proved suitable. The digging at Canon Herbert Ikuura also hit a rocky area but in this case it was possible to cut through and continue the well. Fortunately these incidents did not cause the wells to go too far over budget.

We have now completed wells at four of the eight schools planned – Ciamanda, Ena (see picture below), Magaca and Canon Herbert Ikuura. That means about 1,250 children now have access to a reliable supply of fresh, clean water and no longer have to spend time walking to local streams to collect water for daily use. The well at Nyagari is nearing completion and and work has started on the next well at Kathari. This will just leave Karungu and Kathanjuri to follow. We expect to have all eight originallly planned wells complete by May.

Do take a look at our photo gallery for more pictures showing the digging of the first well at Ciamanda Primary School and the children using the water around the school. Also don’t miss the video showing the children at Magaca Primary School celebrating at the official commissioning of their well.

Thank you once again for your support of this project.

Rotary Club of Embu with Rev Jackson Ngari

Water flowing at Ena Primary School

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Organization Information

Rotary Club of Billericay

Location: Billericay, Essex - United Kingdom
Website: http://www.billericayrotary.org
Facebook: Facebook Page
Twitter: @BillericyRotary

Project Leader:
first4119339 last4119339
United States

Funded Project!

Combined with other sources of funding, this project raised enough money to fund the outlined activities and is no longer accepting donations.

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