Help Fund a School to Access Clean Water in Kenya

Dear Supporters, 

The main focus this the last quarter has been on the building of composting toilets and workshops on water usage, hygiene and sanitation in Moturiki. We have also carried out and completed WaSH surveys in Daku village.

After the completion of the composting toilets on Caqalai, workshops about Composting toilet maintenance and usage were carried out.

Over the last quarter two fundraising events were carried out raising a total of £1167.20 to add to the WaSH funds. The two events were; The Big Moturiki Beach Clean and World Ocean Day Bilibili race. During the last quarter our main focus was the building of composting toilets in Moturiki and our aim was the building of two composting toilets in Daku village. In July we completed WaSH surveys in every house hold for Daku Village. We ask questions about their access to clean and adequate water, clean and sanitary toilets, what kinds of illnesses are occurring in the village and their current understanding of how to treat water sources and illnesses. This was also a time for the villagers to ask any questions or concerns they have on compost toilets before we install them. The common question was “are they going to smell bad” and we have been happy to discuss that compost toilets do not smell bad if they are looked after and smell less than water seal or flush toilets because they cannot be clogged. Compost toilets do not need any water which significantly increases the amount of water available in the village for cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

According to the Ministry of Health in Fiji, Daku is one of the priority villages in Moturiki for water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements due to its proximity to the sea, and limited resources of clean water and toilets. We have spent some of the funds on building materials for the composting toilets in Daku village and we received the materials in June. There has been a delay in building due to a funeral being held in the village but we are hoping to start construction in August. This highlights some of the challenges we face in the construction of the toilets, as village life and obligation take priority over the building of the toilets. We try very hard to work closely with the village headmen to fit our schedules around their time. As a result, this sometimes leads to delays and changes of plans.

It is vital that we keep up this amazing work and complete our goal of having multiple composting toilets in all the villages so in the future the communities can carry on this work through educational workshops. Our goals follow the guidelines of the United Nations development program and sustainable development goal 6. We are working towards universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030. Our work is helping to provide sanitation facilities and a cleaner environment that doesn’t contaminate their water supply. To achieve this, donations are always needed and we are very grateful, vinaka vaka levu, to all those who have donated towards our cause. We would not be able to have the same positive impact without your continued and generous support.

With Gratitude, 

GVI Fiji