Photo: Catherine Powers/CWS

Community-managed water resources give young girls a chance to go to school instead of walk long distances to get water, new agricultural techniques are providing more nutritious meals and a healthier life for struggling families, and the Giving Hope program for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is enabling youngsters to dream bigger and better for the future.  Sustainable development helps people build a better life for themselves, and Church World Service works to empower impoverished women, men, and children to bring their communities out of poverty and create areas of promise and vitality that can only continue to grow and spread.  

Church World Service works in partnership with groups and communities in nearly every corner of Africa.  In western Kenya, CWS and local partner Yang’at ("care" in the Pokot language) are working together to empower women and girls in the community by developing clean water resources.  By working in genuine partnership with Yang’at, CWS learns about the specific water needs and realities of the local community, and Yang’at can learn and gain the tools it needs to make clean water a reality.  Learning and growing, listening and teaching, changing and creating--Church World Service is honored and privileged to work with and accompany our many African partners on whichever road they may be forging and traveling to a better tomorrow.

Kenya

Water in Kadokoi Community

Children in Kadokoi using the new water tap. Photo: CWS

by Nicole Stansifer

The Kadokoi community is located in the arid East Baringo district of Kenya.  The small amount of rain the area gets is erratic. There are often conflicts between communities in the region, especially during the dry seasons, as they compete for the little water that can be found for both their animals and domestic use.

Over the past year, however, the families of Kadokoi have seen some important changes in their community.  Church World Service East Africa has been working with partner Farming Systems Kenya (FSK) to make the region more water-secure.  On Christmas Day 2009, Kadokoi had access to water in their community for the first time. To accomplish this goal, a borehole was drilled and equipped with a solar panel. Two water tanks and a water point were also installed, which has made accessing water much easier.

Rebecca (left) with one of her children. Photo: CWS

Rebecca, one of the community members, spoke about some of the changes in her life: “Before the water tanks were installed, life was much more difficult.  I had to travel seven kilometers one way (a little over four miles) to access water, so getting water for my family would take an entire day.  We had to wait in long lines because there were so many people sharing that water point, and it was not very clean, either, because animals were using it, as well.  But now, things have changed, and we have a new way of life. I have more time and more water available to wash clothes, and I have cleaner water to use for cooking and other tasks. Sharing water with our livestock and having to travel such long distances caused many health issues, but now, the people in our community are much healthier.  My children have more water to take with them to school, too.  

“Now that I have water much closer to my home, I have time for other activities. I have started growing potatoes, rearing chickens, and weaving baskets to sell in order to supplement my income.  I am planning to begin cultivating a garden for vegetables, and possibly open a kiosk (for small business) or restaurant.”

Rebecca is just one of the many beneficiaries of the new water point. The Kadokoi primary school has also seen a positive outcome.  Since the project began, absenteeism has decreased, and school enrollment has almost doubled.  The children no longer have to leave during the day to get water if they are thirsty.

Rebecca and other community members continue to rejoice in the fact that they have access to this life-giving resource right in their own community. “We are happy now and celebrating because we have been given a new beginning!  We pray that God will allow CWS and FSK to help other communities like ours.”

Catherine Amina at her sewing machine. Photo: CWS

Giving Hope: Catherine Amina Succeeds at Business

"I used to spend my days at the market, searching for odd jobs and begging for food," says Catherine Amina, 18, of Ndithini, Kenya.  "My dream was to start a sewing business.  I fulfilled my dream after my youth working group lent me money to start a tailoring and dressmaking shop.  Since then I have invested some of my profits into animal husbandry, and I now have two cows, six goats and twenty-two chickens from which I sell eggs and chicks.  My businesses are a big success.

"With this money I am now able to care for my three sisters and my grandparents, and to pay the school fees for one of my sisters so she can achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and starting a hospital in our village.  I have also been able to employ an additional tailor in my shop, and to offer apprenticeships to two of my youth working group members.  I now have a new dream to expand my business and start a second shop in Mbusyani."

Catherine Amina's story is one of many included in the CWS Giving Hope methodology guidebook.  The CWS-supported Giving Hope program assists child-headed households in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mozambique.  Through the program, young people orphaned by HIV and AIDS, or by war or genocide, are empowered to continue their education, grow food, make items to sell, or start small businesses.

Photo: Caroline Thuo Reggy/CWS   Photo: HUYAWA

Rwanda “After the death of my parents, I lived on the streets of Kigali. My sisters sent several youth from their new [CWS Giving Hope] youth working group to talk to me. I joined their group and pursued my dream to be a successful farmer with a cow and grain storage houses,” says Martin Iyakaremye, who now pays his sisters’ school fees and has even taken another orphaned child into the household.

Tanzania “I have three siblings,” says Valentine Desderi. “I joined a [CWS Giving Hope] youth working group in 2006.” Desderi received a business loan and sells dried fish and raises chickens. “Both projects are going well and earning us money for food, school materials and tiles to repair our roof,” says Desderi.