Our Approach to Environmental & Water Work:
We believe Kenya’s natural resources are vital for the health and success of the people. Unfortunately, they’re being stripped and degraded at an unsettling rate. Access to clean water can be incredibly limited in rural areas. Native trees are cut to make room for more agriculture.
As the government does little to protect these resources, the people of Kenya and organizations who operate here must take it upon ourselves to save our forests and water for the future generations.
The native forests of Kenya stabilize our climate and water systems, provide air to breath and healthy soil to grow in. We’re proponents of incorporating native trees into agricultural practices to improve and maintain the health of the land.
We believe access to clean water is a right that no one should be denied. Creating systems of easy access to clean water not only improves the lives of those who collect it but increases the efficiency of our workforce and country as a whole.
Our Actions:
Initially inspired by the work of Wangari Maathai, we have been planting and maintaining a forest of native, endangered trees at our Eco Village. In 2013, we purchased 7 acres of land for conservation efforts and have since planted over 6,000 native trees, along with a fully operational small-scale farm.
We have found the system to be mutually beneficial and hope to develop an example of healthy agricultural practices that contribute to the regeneration of the local environment rather than its degradation. In fact, we’ve recently learned that farmers in the area have been inspired by our plot and have started to plant trees on their own land.
Our farm provides healthy fruits and vegetables to dozens of families in our program. As soon as the rains roll around each season, our staff is hard at work planting, managing and harvesting crops. The solar pump system also enables us to grow certain crops throughout the dry season. The nutritious crops are distributed among families to supplement other staple foods.
In addition to planting trees and growing food, we installed a solar water pump, four 10,000 liter storage drums and a community water tap on the property. The pump provides water for our small farm, our livestock and over 200 people in the local area. Wana Duma maintains the solar water pump and community water tap so that the families in our area have year-round access to water.
The Outcomes:
As of 2021, our Eco Village is a thriving, young native forest. Thanks to our donors and community efforts, the forest is home to over 6,000 endangered trees and soon to be more. What was a barren patch of land in 2013, is now an example of the possibilities for sustainable agriculture in Kenya. More trees are popping up in the area as the community takes notice of their many benefits.
The food harvested from our land provides families in our program with nutritious additions to their diet. As traditional meals can sometimes lack vital nutrients children need to grow, these fruits and vegetables are a much-needed treat for children and parents alike.
The community water tap has created far easier water access for over 50 families in the community and students from the nearby school. Before the tap, community members (mostly women and children) had to trek into the ravine to fill up their jugs at the creek, which was a steep 2 km each way. With the solar water pump coming from the creek and the tap installed at the top of the hill, their journey is much shorter.
