Subject: In the news: SOAP & WATER- Friendly Water's March Newsletter

 

March 2022 Issue

friendly water for the world header

Hi Friend,


Our work at Friendly Water for the World is an expression of friendship, hope and community. By working together, we create partnership, success and progress. Here are some snapshots, taken at ground level, of the work we undertake.


Peace,

Curt D. Andino

Executive Director

 

In Brief- What happened in February

>> The Matsakha Development Group produced 551 liters of Liquid Soap and sold 446 liters producing 35,000 Kenyan Shillings ($306) in revenue


>> The newly minted Kambiri Community Development Group underwent a Liquid Soap training. In the first two weeks they produced 280 liters selling 202. Great start!


>> Four Rainwater Catchment Tanks have been finished in Matsakha. With thanks for substantial funding from the Rotary Club of Bedford, MA. We'll officially dedicate these tanks and turn on the taps in late-March.


>> A team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided our teams from Matsakha and Kambiri with an excellent day of training in marketing, finance, reporting standards and best-practice management standards.


>> We moved forward with planning work in Zambia in both Munamoomba and Simwatachela, both very isolated communities with significant challenges.


>> Extended an invitation, which was accepted, for a team from Malawi to visit our headquarters in Kenya to learn about ISSB bricks and our exclusive design for Rainwater Catchment Tanks.


>> Have a question or suggestion? Send an email to curt@friendlywater.org.


Please share our work and invite others to join our mission.

 

Kambiri Goes Soapy

matsakha community engagement

On the slopes of Kambiri Hills lies the busy Kambiri Market. The market is strategically located between the Nandi Escarpments and the famous Kakamega Tropical Rain Forest which is endowed for it numerous bird species. Kambiri unlike other market centers that are dominated by one community is further blended by people from different communities and tribes. Indeed Kambiri is “Kenya” on its own

In December 2021 two sub-locations (Ivakale and Bulovi) which is the lowest constitutional administrative unit in Kenya participated in a vigorous Community Engagement Process that gave birth to the formation of Kambiri Community Development Group a local entity that seeks to improve the living standards of the people of Kambiri.


We are living under difficult times due to covid-19 pandemic. Hand-washing in Schools, Government Offices, Health Facilities, homes and other public places has become a common norm as a safety and preventive measure against the spread of covid-19.Our partners in Kambiri set out full throttle to produce and sell multi-purpose liquid soap to the community at the beginning of the month of February 2022.The production that was done in the first week of this venture saw all the soap being sold at once.



The name of the soap “Safi” which means “Clean” is a catalyzing factor towards the sale of the liquid soap. The force to launch Safi soap was too much that the Kambiri Community Development Group had no choice but to heed this call. This special and memorable occasion was attended by all the people in Kambiri Community led by the Assistant County Commissioner, the Area Chief, the Area Member of County Assembly, Assistant Chiefs and administrators from the County Government of Kakamega.


Kambiri community has gone viral with the Safi Soap. One resident remarked “This is the soap, at least we have good quality soap that is locally produced. This is a clear indication that at long last cottage industry has come to Kambiri. We shall endeavor to make sure Kambiri and adjacent communities are saturated with Safi soap."


With kind regards from Kambiri,

Eric Lijodi,

Programs Manager

 

Creating New Opportunities for Business

My name is Mary Chesoli a well-known business lady here in Namanja, though am married in this region but my home area is in Bungoma, I have been in this business of selling foodstuff for two years and my aim was to put up a decent iron roofed house, before this (rainwater catchment) project started I had a deficit of 12 iron sheet but when the masons started building the tanks I took the contract of supplying tea and lunch and this has enabled me get the iron sheets, am happy by the cooperation of the masons.

 

Community Engagement and Participation is Integral

Area Chief helping to build Friendly Water Rainwater Catchment Tank at a local school.

A road map is developed, an idea is generated, a vision captured and someone somewhere is ready to roll out a plan. All of a sudden it becomes clear that there is a gap, some key ingredients are missing: the support and ideas of the community.


As it may seem obvious that Friendly Water for the World is doing a tremendous job in the community, the secret lies behind in engaging the community in decision making ,offering insights and ownership.


Then a question will beg “how do you go about the process”?

borehole well pump

A group comprised of local leaders.

We begin by convening a small group of the people to share and validate the vision and in most cases the leadership of the community.

Then it’s followed by doing a community assessment to ascertain the needs of the community, a thorough analysis of the findings is carried out to identify areas of convergence and if they align with our organization then it means there is a shared and defined purpose to engage and collaborate.

This necessitates a three day intensive engagement with the community which will bring out important assets, attributes, strengths and opportunities that the community has to enable implementation of programs.

Pupils from Namanja Primary assisting our team in building a water tank.

With this vital approach, our entry in schools has been very easy especially in public schools. In Namanja Primary it took us only a span of one month to complete the three tanks and it’s because of this wonderful approach.


Thank you for reading,

Ezra Kigondu,

Asst. Programs Manager

 

A few words from a new partner

I am Mitchel Nekesa, the head girl of Namanja primary school. As a school president I had so many responsibilities and one the toughest responsibility was ensuring that water was in school, my role was to mobilize other pupils to fetch water. This responsibility saw me make more enemies than friends and this extended up to our parents. I am very happy for these rainwater catchment tanks because they are going to lessen my tasks and at least I can now start having friends. Since I was known for issues pertaining water I will also spearhead the management of water in the tanks. This will improve our social life in school.

 

Your individual support is how this work gets done. Thank you!

 

FRIENDLY WATER FOR THE WORLD

We are on a mission to transform the villages of the world.

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Friendly Water for the World, 900 Jefferson St. SE, Unit 6070, Olympia, WA 98501, United States

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    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of Email Master List (Friendly Water for the World, 900 Jefferson St. SE, Unit 6070, 98501 Olympia, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2022-03-10. Report abuse