Africa Water Project
In much of the rural settings in Kenya, people must walk long distances to secure drinking water. This takes much time and energy and often is the responsibility of women and children. This is not only very wearing on their bodies from the weight they must carry, but can also put them in harm’s way. If they choose to draw water from the local streams, this is often the same water used for bathing, washing clothes, and livestock care, which is normally unsafe to drink.
Contaminated water causes many life threatening diseases such as typhoid, malaria, diarrhea, cholera, and malnutrition. Most of the diseases that stem from unclean water are completely preventable if people have safe, clean drinking water.
People with weakened immune systems, such as those suffering from HIV and AIDS, are especially in need of safe drinking water. When they are not able to stay healthy, they perish, and leave their children behind to survive on their own.
In remote areas like Meto, Kenya, livestock and cash crops are the main sources of food and income and can not be supported without a viable and reliable water source. Due to the lack of water resources, crops often fail, and the animals die. Climatic changes, such as drought or mass flooding, can also destroy a whole community in a very short amount of time.
Integrity Worldwide has seen this first hand during our mission trip to Kenya. We saw the devastating effects of what a famine and drought look like as we drove through completely dry riverbeds and passed a multitude of animal carcasses on the sides of the road. Many people were very ill from not having access to clean water. However, most of their sufferings were preventable.
What we do to help
The answer to many of these issues is the drilling of deep wells to supply whole communities with fresh drinking water. Just one well can supply water for up to 6,000 people. Wells not only enable lives to be saved, but they also provide a way to break out of the deepest poverty through the businesses of livestock and cash crops. Fresh, safe water insures a healthy future for many Kenyan families.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 in order to drill wells in the area of Meto, Kenya. This will be a life-changing event for the community and give all of us a wonderful opportunity to bless and be blessed by helping sustain lives through the gift of water, something we often take for granted.
Check out pictures from our recent Boston Butt For Water Fundraiser
Cisterns in Kenya are used to store rain water.
Women have to carry their water from the river to the village.