CLEAN WATER ACCESS AT THE CENTRE OF LOVE KIBERA

CLEAN WATER ACCESS AT THE CENTRE OF LOVE KIBERA, NAIROBI, KENYA.

PROGRESS REPORT – 5^th  DECEMBER 2024

Project Title: Clean water access at the Centre of Love Kibera

GlobalGiving Project I.D:52248

The consistent access to clean and safe water continues to be a challenge for communities living in Kibera slums, Nairobi, Kenya. Structural challenges such as poor housing plans and poor water pipeline systems exacerbate this challenge. Also, the few existing water pipelines are not always functioning due to vandalism and water diversions. All these has resulted to inconsistencies in water supplies and contaminated water.

At the Centre of Love, we have employed various strategies in an attempt to address these challenges.  

• Supply of clean and safe water. The Centre of Love has been at the forefront in supplying clean and safe water both for domestic and institutions use. The presence of an ultrafiltration machine has ensured water coming from the mains undergoes a filtration process and then redirected back to the taps for supply. Also, the storage tanks within the Centre of Love are frequently cleaned and treated to further enhance the cleanliness of the stored water. This has resulted to over 2000 families, several churches and local schools have consistent supply of clean and safe water.

• Supply of clean toilet services – Access to toilets remains another challenge that greatly affects hygiene and sanitation of families and surrounding churches and schools. Poor and limited toilet systems means that a lot of wastes is disposed along roads, water pipelines and river. This creates a high risk of disease outbreak such as cholera. To address the limited toilet issue, the Centre of Love has provided six toilets which are open to members of the communities and institutions such as churches and schools. The toilets are well maintained and have adequate running water. This is a valuable resource to families around the centre as they can now access toilet services in a dignified way while at the same time promoting their health and clean environment.

• WASH Community Outreaches-In order to have a greater community reach, and increase the number of people having awareness on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene the Centre of Love organized several community events which drew the attention of different groups within the community. The events included:

o   WASH Soccer tournaments- The Centre of Love hosted three series of a soccer tournament which were held in April, August and November 2024.Themed “kick it for WASH” youths aged 15-20 from Kibera and the neighbouring slums of Kawangware and Kangemi participated in competitive soccer games. In addition to the games, the tournament event also included sensitization sessions where trainings on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) were held. Topics such as handwashing, disposal of waste, personal hygiene, environment clean ups and consumption of safe water were covered. The 2024 WASH Soccer tournaments has resulted to availability of 120(60 Male 60 females) water champions who are promoters of WASH practices in homes, schools, churches and the neighbourhoods they live in.

o   Women empowerment:

• International Women’s Day 2024 - The Centre of Love hosted over 200 women during International Women’s Day 2024.With women being at the forefront in using water both for consumption and cleanliness, the event created a platform where conversations on use of clean water, water hygiene, water borne diseases were held. This enhanced the women’s awareness on the importance of uptake of clean and safe water. So far, more women are reporting reduced water borne diseases within their families and a general improvement of hygiene within their families.

• Fashion and design skills training-The Centre of Love has been hosting weekly classes where over 50 women aged 18-50 have attended and have been trained in fashion and design. The women have as well been undergoing training on use of clean and safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices for home use and consumption. This initiative has further promoted the societies attitudes towards use of clean water and proper hygiene practices.  

• Engagement of key stakeholders- In order to ensure that the WASH community needs are being adequately addressed, the Centre of Love worked in close collaboration with the Local chief, Sub-chief and village elders. This has strengthened its presence and recognition in the governance structures of the community. Also, the Centre has worked closely with officials from the Public Health department to ensure its operations are legitimate and meet the public health requirements set by the Nairobi County Government.

The strategies highlighted above have been instrumental in promoting Water, Sanitation and Hygiene among families and the community at large. Through such initiatives, there has been improved health of individuals, cleanliness in the environment has been enhanced and there is a positive shift on the community’s perception on use of clean and safe water.

Appreciation

The Centre of Love appreciates all its benefactors who have supported it to actualize the water project. Through your support, families have consistent access to clean and safe water, families and the community at large have access to clean toilet services and there is a positive mind shift among communities and mostly women and youths towards uptake of Water Sanitation and hygiene practices as a result of the water champions initiative.

Thank you for all your generous support in 2024 and we look forward to your partnership in the journey of ensuring access to clean and safe water as well as promotion of sanitation and hygiene to residents of Kibera slums in 2025.

Felister Muthoni

Manager-The Centre of Love Foundation

Links:

• The Centre of Love Website