CLEAN WATER ACCESS AT THE CENTRE OF LOVE KIBERA

Because of your generous support through GlobalGiving, we continue to witness something remarkable every day: when young people are given knowledge, opportunity, and responsibility, they become powerful agents of change. Your investment in clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not simply improving access to safe water—it is building a generation that believes it can transform its own community.

Young People: The Greatest Resource for Community Change

Young people possess incredible energy, creativity, and a willingness to embrace new ideas. When they understand the importance of good hygiene and are empowered to lead, they become ambassadors within their families, schools, and neighborhoods. They influence their parents, siblings, and friends in ways that formal campaigns alone often cannot.

At the Centre of Love Foundation, we believe that lasting community transformation begins by investing in the youth. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders today.

When youth are involved in community development and project implementation, they:

• Become active problem solvers rather than passive recipients of aid.
• Develop leadership and teamwork skills.
• Encourage positive behavior among their peers.
• Build ownership of community projects, making them more sustainable.
• Inspire families to adopt healthier practices through their own example.

This is why every WASH activity we organize intentionally places young people at the center of learning and action.

Empowering Women Through Menstrual Hygiene Education

During the last quarter, we hosted a Menstrual Hygiene Training at the Centre of Love that brought together more than 200 women from the community.

The training emphasized the importance of menstrual hygiene management, personal cleanliness, and practical hygiene practices that women and girls can adopt within their homes despite the challenges many face. Through demonstrations, discussions, and real-life examples from the community, participants gained practical knowledge that helps reduce infections, improve dignity, and build confidence.

The event also created a safe environment where women could openly discuss issues that are often surrounded by stigma. By encouraging honest conversations, we strengthened community awareness that menstrual health is an essential part of overall health and sanitation.

The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and many committed themselves to sharing what they learned with their daughters, neighbors, and friends.

KICK It For WASH: Soccer with a Purpose

During the April school holiday, the Centre of Love Foundation organized another successful KICK It For WASH Soccer Tournament, bringing together six teams of young men from the community.

While the soccer competition creates excitement, the true purpose of the tournament is much greater.

The event uses football as a platform to teach:

• Proper handwashing practices.
• Safe water handling.
• Good sanitation habits.
• Personal hygiene.
• Environmental cleanliness.
• Community responsibility.

Every participating team competes not only for the championship trophy but also for demonstrating the strongest commitment to promoting WASH practices within their neighborhoods. Teams actively engage community members, encourage proper sanitation, organize clean-up efforts, and educate families about healthy hygiene behaviors.

The tournament also attracts many children under the age of 18, who eagerly participate in the educational activities surrounding the matches. Their enthusiasm is contagious. We continue to witness children returning home excited to teach their parents and siblings about proper handwashing, safe drinking water, and the importance of keeping their surroundings clean.

These young people remind us that education spreads far beyond the classroom.

Behavior Change Takes Time

One of the greatest lessons we have learned is that behavior change does not happen overnight.

Healthy habits are formed through continuous learning, repeated practice, and consistent encouragement.

For this reason, every three months we organize another KICK It For WASH event in a different part of the community. Each tournament reinforces previous lessons while reaching new families who may never have attended before.

Every event strengthens awareness, encourages positive habits, and slowly builds a culture where clean water, sanitation, and hygiene become everyday practices rather than occasional reminders.

We are not growing tired.

Instead, every successful event gives us even greater energy and determination to reach more young people, more families, and more communities.

Improving Water Access

Thanks to your continued generosity, we also completed the construction of a new water tower at the Centre of Love.

The new tower has significantly improved water pressure throughout the facility, making access to clean water more reliable for the many children, families, and community members who depend on the Centre each day.

This important improvement strengthens our ability to provide safe water while supporting all of our hygiene and sanitation activities.

It is another reminder that your support creates practical, lasting improvements that benefit the entire community.

Why Investing in Youth Matters in Kenya

Kenya has one of the youngest populations in Africa. This presents a tremendous opportunity, but also significant challenges.

Many young people face:

• High unemployment and limited economic opportunities.
• Poverty and food insecurity.
• Drug and substance abuse.
• Crime and violence.
• Mental health challenges.
• Limited access to quality education and mentorship.
• Poor sanitation and inadequate access to clean water in informal settlements such as Kibera.

Without positive opportunities, many youth become vulnerable to hopelessness and destructive influences.

However, when young people are given meaningful opportunities to serve their communities, everything begins to change.

They discover purpose.

They become role models.

They build healthier families.

They protect their environment.

They become advocates for clean water and good hygiene.

Most importantly, they begin to believe that they have the power to improve the communities where they live.

This is exactly what we witness every day through our WASH initiatives.

Looking Ahead

None of this would be possible without you.

Every donation you make helps provide clean water, educate families, empower women, engage young people, and create healthier communities.

Because of your generosity, thousands of lives continue to be touched through practical education and improved access to safe water.

There is still much work ahead, and we remain committed to expanding our reach and strengthening our impact.

Thank you for believing in the people of Kibera.

Thank you for believing in the power of young people.

Thank you for choosing the Centre of Love Foundation among many worthy causes.

Together, we are raising a generation that understands the value of clean water, practices good hygiene, and is determined to build healthier communities for everyone.