Friendly Water for the World small non-profit with 7 board members and 5 staff, based in Olympia, Washington. It was founded in 2010. Leaders from Friendly water start work in an area with a community assessment, including all key members of a community who decide what their greatest needs are. It then trains and equips the community in sustainable technologies to safeguard, conserve and expand essential resources. The community assessment was done in Nov. 2020 in Matsakha, Kenya. The need for clean water was a priority, and the following technologies were identified to address their needs:
- Soap-making
- BioSand Water Filters
- Rainwater catchment tanks
- Interlocking soil stabilized bricks
- Rocket stove
- Permaculture
- Microflush toilet
We were able to raise $4,675 for Friendly Water, including a district match, funds from our club’s foundation and individual contributions. This was enough to build 3 water catchment basins. We chose to build them all at the Namanja Primary School. This was a priority because half of the students and staff at the school, which serves 950 students, were spending half of their school days going to fetch water. This was necessary as the bore holes, from which they obtain water, run dry. Soon they will be able to spend all day learning.
Beginning of work, see Namanja School in the background
Students keeping an eye on the work
As of Feb. 18, “I wanted to get you this update. All three rainwater catchment tanks are essentially finished but are still undergoing curing. After curing is completed we'll be overseeing the attachment of the intake plumbing (gutters and connecting pipes) which is being provided by the school.
Once that is all done and our inspection and completion forms are finished we'll move on to painting and then putting on the logos”
Finished tank, being cured.
Workers who built the tank
Testimony as posted on Friendly Water’s Facebook Page. Our club was credited.
DATE: 26/01/2022
Location: Namanja primary
Taken by: Ezra Kigondu
Subject: Mitchel Nekesa the school Head girl
Benefit: social
I am Mitchel Nekesa, the head girl of Namanja primary school. As a school president I had so many responsibilities and one the toughest responsibility was ensuring that water was in school, my role was to mobilize other pupils to fetch water. This responsibility saw me make more enemies than friends and this extended up to our parents. I am very happy for these rainwater catchment tanks because they are going to lessen my tasks and at least I can now start having friends. Since I was known for issues pertaining water I will also spearhead the management of water in the tanks. This will improve our social life in school.