By Sunil Lalvani | Project Leader
Dear Donors,
This is an evidenced-based impact update on the Fathers and Kids Camping Project that supports clean water and sanitation to three schools in Ulutya, Kavwea and Mutwamaki communities in Machakos County, Kenya. We are excited to share that we have completed the first cycle of pre-and-post impact surveys and in this report, we will share real insights in the social benefits of providing safe water, quantifying how it has transformed lives.
Baseline Survey Results
In June 2020, we completed the baseline survey in Ulutya, Kavwea and Mutwamaki communities and found that water collection time rounds up to 57 minutes per day per collection, and it has to be repeated at least twice a day to fulfil each households water needs. More importantly, 76% of community women reported feeling unsafe fetching water and 67% found the available water sources very difficult to access compared to only 42% of men. Notably, the three communities also reported a high rate of water-borne illnesses. On average community members visit the local clinic 3.25 times per year to treat water related illnesses, paying 1,323 Ksh per visit ($12.44). (A 20L jerry can is sold for 2.5 Ksh, so each avoided visit is the equivalent of 529 jerry cans). With regard to water quality, the three communities reported high dissatisfaction levels (47.6%) and described the available water as murky (16.7%) and very murky (44.4%).
Post-Impact Survey Results:
After officially handing over the solar-powered water kiosks to each of the communities in September 2020, we followed up with post-intervention/post-impact surveys to understand and quantify the social impact of clean water flowing through our kiosks. We are excited to share that the community women’s water walks have been reduced by 65% (from 57 minutes to 20 minutes per collection). With each of these kiosks installed on school premises, in the heart of each community, 92% women report feeling safer accessing water from the Maji kiosk and 84% believe it is easier to access water through the Maji kiosk. In addition, 93% of the respondents feel their health has improved because of clean water and health clinic visits have declined. Three nurses from community clinics were also interviewed, and all three claim they: “Have seen great improvement/ Some improvement / I have seen an improvement” in overall health and a drop in water-borne related cases, even though they found it hard to quantify this number. In addition, Teachers from the three primary schools indicate that the health of their pupils has significantly improved (75%) with 25% stating minor health improvements.
Finally, a large majority (76%) believe that the price being charged for water is ‘fair’ and Project Maji is deemed highly trustworthy (Strongly trustworthy – 52.6% & Trustworthy – 47.4%) to handle the water revenue professionally for future repairs and maintenance of the kiosk. These indicators can safely be interpreted to reflect a general willingness to pay for water, and hence, the long-run self-sustainability and longevity of each of these kiosks.
Thank you for transforming lives with clean water
Thank you for your continued support in making safe water a reality at Ulutya, Kavwea and Mutwamaki communities. Having learnt about the tangible impact you have helped us create, we are hoping you will continue to support our work in these and other Maji communities.
By Sunil Lalvani | Project Leader
By Sunil Lalvani | Project Leader
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