Shibwe Kenya
O'Khanga family compound
I made strides with the host family this weekend by attempting the ever-challenging experience of carrying things on top of my head. Sunday dawned glorious and later in the morning the family started the weekend chores of house cleaning, laundry, and cooking. I joined in, helping with the laundry. The boys soon loaded up the wheelbarrow with water tanks. I tagged along as we headed for their water source. After crossing the farm and heading down the hillside, we came to the clans source for "clean" water: it is cleaner than the open river I cross every day going to the clinic, but I still can't drink it. The underground source comes from the hillside and the clan built a cement retrieval area with a lead pipe for easy water collection. The boys filled four large tanks as well as the smaller one I had carried. My host sister soon joined us with her own tank. I started up the hillside ahead of her, the full water tank in my arms and at the top she gracefully and skillfully lifted her tank onto her head. I gritted my teeth and followed suit. Using all of my available arm muscles, holding my breath, I hoisted the tank onto my head trying desperately not to spill any of the precious water needed for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and bathing. Some water did inevitably spill; running down the left side of my face, soaking my shirt and skirt. Once balanced, however, I held one edge with one hand and trudged gingerly across the farm from whence we had come. Entering the yard, my younger host sister caught the attention of my host mom who simply laughed at my struggle to carry the smallest tank on my oh-so white head with my curly hair streaming down. I think that will go on my resume - "water-carrying abilities"!
Many Kenyans walk longer distances for water or choose to walk less and retrieve water from stagnant pools that build up along the roadside following the heavy rains - the same pools into which cattle, dogs, and people urinate and defecate - contributing to public health issues facing Kenya and stifling development.
While interning at a health clinic and living in rural Kenya, I had the honor and privilege of working with Peter Khamusali, a Kenyan native from the village of Shikokho. He was educated in Nairobi and returned to his village to help sustainably develop it. I lived in Shibwe, the village next door.
Shikokho would benefit greatly from a well and Peter has launched a bold campaign to have one dug with necessary piping placed for access. Please join me in raising $5000.00 towards funding the placement of the well in the village to provide a sustainable, accessible, clean water source for the people of Shikokho. The entire cost of completing the well is $23,000.00 USD. To date the villagers have raised $10,000.00 USD and the survey of the area has been completed. Currently 12 villagers are being trained in the functioning of the well. The next phase will be to dig the borehole. The water will then be pumped above ground and available for distribution.
You may go to the website for Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD - the organization through which I interned) to make a tax-deductible donation through PayPal. The Paypal link is also on this site. Additionally you may write a check payable to "Foundation for Sustainable Development" with my name: "Abigail Papé" and host country "Kenya" in the memo line and mail it to:
Water for Shikokho
c/0 Abigail Papé
1410 SW Broadway #210
Portland OR 97201
Sending it to the above address ensures that your funds will get to this specific project. FSD oversees many projects at one time and they request checks be collected by the in-country point person (that's me!) then sent to FSD for distribution to Peter in Shikokho Kenya.
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