Monday, November 23, 2009

Serious stuff

Samburu, Kenya is experiencing a worse than usual drought. Today, I had another meeting with the executive director for Koins. We discussed the imminent need to build a safe and sanitary girls dormitory at the Samburu Secondary School. The stories she told me about the conditions she saw there last May made tears drop from my eyes.
Of course, they'll need a water source. Since Samburu's topography doesn't work for boreholes (wells) we will most likely tap (via pipeline) into the main water source from Mombasa. If you have any questions about the specific, technical aspects just let me know (it's not that interesting to write about..really...plus, I can put you in touch with someone who can explain the process much better than I).
One of the saddest facts that young women face is the inability to continue with their education because of menstruation, pregnancy (often due to early marriage or rape) or lack of funds and water.
Most people know, or should know, that an educated woman is the first line of defense to poverty, violence and AIDS. Anything we can do to keep even one girl in school is worthwhile.
The next time you turn on the tap, try to think about what a precious resource water is.