TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY HEALTH
Good health begins with clean water. With access to clean water, rampant water-borne diseases like cholera are eliminated, rates or diarrhea plummet, miscarriages decrease, and overall wellness improves. A borehole alone, cannot foster this change. Community engagement, mobilization, and education is integral to creating a sustainable impact. That is why, after each well is drilled, The Samburu Project works with the well committee to facilitate a Hygiene and Sanitation Workshop that covers causes of water contamination, instruction on proper hand-washing, and water treatment methods at the household level. As a result, diarrhea and other waterborne diseases in our well communities have been nearly eradicated.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
Every day women and girls in Samburu, and around the world, are forced to put their lives on hold to manage their menstruation with little to no supplies or knowledge. As a result, women's roles in the workforce are limited and girls miss over 60 days of school a year. This constant disruption in their studies takes a toll on both their education and confidence. That is why since 2019, we have worked with partners like PadMad, AirKenya, Kapa Oil, Family Bank, Kaka Empire, Kim-Fay Africa, and Eliud Kipchoge to provide nearly 10,000 girls the support they need during their menstruation. With access to clean water, reusable menstrual supplies become a realistic option, allowing Samburu girls to stay in the classroom where they belong. Together, we can improve health, period.
IMPROVING SANITATION
Due to lack of support, schools in Samburu struggle with crumbling infrastructure and declining sanitation standards. Over the last 15 years, we have worked with several schools around Samburu to make repairs and construct new projects. In April 2022, we partnered with Wamba DEB Secondary School, whose doorless latrines were unsafe and unkept, to build 6 new enclosed toilets, plus a hand-washing station, to ensure improved health, safety, and hygiene for over 600 students.
Later that same year, TSP cut the ribbon at Tipito Girls’ Secondary to reveal 12 new overhead showers. This is a rarity in Samburu, where most students must bathe themselves using “bucket showers.” Now, the 365 students at Tipito can clean themselves with ease. Tipito Girls’ Secondary School is the first of 149 schools in Wamba County to have overhead showers and they won’t be the last!
SUPPORTING HEALTH CLINICS
In December of 2020, our team dedicated our Giving Tuesday campaign to raising funds for Lengusaka Health Center in Samburu. Thanks to the generosity of our global community, we raised over $12,500 to construct a new rain catchment system, install solar panels, and purchase proper shelving, seating, and storage. All to ensure that the clinic can actively serve each patient that walks through their door.
