Kenya water relief project

Help is desperately needed to construct simple sand dams and work on tree planting schemes to protect the natural environment and give a source of water to this dry and barren region. You will be working as part of a team of volunteers with members of the local community to build an entire sand dam from start to finish.

Expect to be met every day by singing Akamba women, the chatter of children who are beyond excitement to see you and various words of wisdom and questions from the village elders. The project not only gives you great interaction with the local Akamba people as you work together but also offers the opportunity to work with children in the local schools through Environmental Education Days. 

This is an excellent opportunity to get experience in overseas development work. We include a long weekend off in Nairobi, a 2 day 4x4 safari in Tsavo West and a few days relaxing time at the end of the project on the beautiful Kenyan coast. The semi-arid environments of Kenya are suffering from a scarcity of water as rainfall is becoming increasingly erratic - one in three rainy seasons are now failing. Compounding the problem is an increase in deforestation mainly due to the need for firewood to support the escalating population. As deforestation increases, soil erosion and the soil's reduced retention of water seriously affects the subsistence farmers' ability to grow enough food to eat. Lack of firewood also affects local levels of health and nutrition due to the increased costs of cooking food.

It only rains a few precious times each year in the Eastern Province of Kenya but very quickly the riverbeds and springs dry up leaving the women and children to walk between 2 and 10 kilometres every day to collect water. Some children have been known to walk 30 kilometres to find water - often forcing them to miss school regularly. Apart from the time taken to collect water, the water is often dug out of riverbeds and is brown and filthy. This is a constant threat to the health and welfare of the people, especially the young and old. Sand Dams can offer a solution to this problem.

We have joined forces with the UK charity Excellent Development to help improve the lives of thousands of Kenyan villagers. The WaterRelief™ expedition will provide the opportunity for volunteers to work alongside local communities in the Eastern Province of Kenya to help build small-scale sand dams and work on tree planting projects.

This project offers students interested in gaining experience in overseas development and conservation work the opportunity to help with sustainable development in an area in desperate need. It is a unique chance to work, laugh and dance with the local community, whilst at the same time sharing tasks, such as collecting water and mixing cement. The project is based in the Machakos district, south-east of Nairobi. Volunteers stay in a self-contained house close to the village of Kola. Volunteers on this project will be living closely with local communities in a very rural environment. As a volunteers on the Kenya team you will help construct small-scale sand dams and work on tree planting schemes to enhance the natural environment and prevent erosion. This project not only gives a real chance for great interaction with the local Akamba people on the work site but also in the local schools with a unique chance to plan and run an informal Environmental Education programme with children from the communities.
 
Your team will be between 8-16 people. The age range is mixed and varies between 18-35! Regardless of age, all volunteers have one thing in common – an enthusiasm to experience the real Africa, spend time out in the African Bush and to make a positive impact on the local communities in and around Kola.