Help Kenyan and Ugandan Women Provide Clean Water

There was a recent cholera outbreak in Kihoto Village, a slum in Naivasha, Kenya. But the 100 students of Kihoto Baharini Pre-school were able to avoid getting sick thanks to the new Biosand filters that were installed at their school thanks to your support!

LIfe Bloom Services, our local partner in Naivasha, learned how to build the Biosand filter at our training last May 2014. The Biosand filter can be built locally using local materials and can effectively clean water removing 90-99% of disease causing pathogens - including cholera. Life Bloom chose Baharini Pre-School to install the filters, because it was the only school in the slum that offered free education, clothing and food to the students. The students who attend are from families who can't afford to pay school fees or provide their chidlren with education. 

Head teacher Florence told us that before the Biosand filters were installed, the school had to buy water even though they had borehole water on the school grounds. The borehole water was much too contaminated so they bought so-called 'clean' water from water vendors delivering the water by donkey. Despite the claim the water was clean, the children still complained of stomach aches and headaches, and when they fell very sick, had to be brought to the hospital, another added expense for the school.

Since the installation of the Biosand Filters the school no longer had to purchase water. They were able to use the water already on school grounds and just pour it thorugh the filter. Florence was convinced how effective the filter was when they had no incidences of cholera with the students despite a recent outbreak. So, with the money saved from not having to buy water or taking the children to the hospital, Florence was able to buy more fresh fruit and food for the students. 

Thanks so much for your support and helping us bring H2ope to women and children in East Africa!