|
TuesdayChildren of Promise
The chapter's current program in Kenya is one centered on the Giika Orphan Rescue Center, locally known as Watoto Wa Ahadi (children of promise). Located in the rural hills of central Kenya and just some 20 kilometers South of the town of Maua, the center aims to adopt local street children to shelter, rehabilitate, and educate them. EWB-JSC has partnered with Sodzo International to deliver sustainable improvements to Watoto Wa Ahadi. We meet at 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month via Google Meets. We welcome your involvement. Contact us for the log-in information. |
|
Giika, Kenya - water Project
|
2021 Looking forward...
We look forward to continuing our work with Charles to investigate the wells in the Meru area to learn what successful wells have in common and to finally reschedule and complete that assessment trip from 2019. For more information on who we are and what we do, please see the pdf to the right. 2020 Update With the continued global quarantine measurers in places for travelers, we were not able to reschedule our trip from 2019. However, we did learn more about the borehole situation in the Meru area of Kenya - that 60% of them fail. This gave us more focus: finding what it takes to build a successful borehole in the Meru area. Thanks to the many hours our in-country volunteer spent obtaining detailed information on the successful wells in a 10km radius. We will begin analyzing the data in our January 2021 meetings. 2019 Update In 2019 the Kenya team leadership transitioned to Michelle Patrick-Krueger, Roman Stromeyer, and Mark Whiddon. An assessment trip was planned for March 2019, but with the global shutdown due to the pandemic had to be cancelled. During 2019 we continued to communicate with community members and learn more about the water situation in the Meru area. |
| ||
History
2016 March Trip Summary
Kenya Team, Day #1:
We spent the day verifying and measuring trench runs, including doing a preliminary pipe laying, to confirm we had the pipe we needed. We inspected the plumbing at the staff quarters and inventoried what had been delivered vs. what we needed. Additional trench runs were planned and started by the local labor. We were very fortunate to be able to get both the electrician and the plumbing supply business owner out to help us confirm our equipment needs.
Kenya Team, Day #2:
Kenya Team, Day #2:
The team began the day purchasing additional supplies from a local plumbing business (the owner had been to the site with us). Pipe, joins, Ts, PVC cement, brass and steel fittings, etc. Once at the site we inspected the staff quarters plumbing and attempted some clean-outs and scoped out the existing infrastructure to determine what to replace and what to salvage.. We directed the straightening of trenches and the filling of some that it turns out we won’t need. We laid and cemented some pipe from the showers to the dorm for fresh and gray water. The gray water line will eventually feed all the way down the hill to a biogas digester planned for installation later this year or in 2017. We laid and cemented some of the early biogas lines alongside the dorm as well. (We also got a wi-fi modem so we can post updates to you fine folks!)
Kenya Team, Day #3:
Another stop at the plumbing supply business, followed by a busy day of cementing pipe runs. Water from the well to the cistern. Water back down from the cistern to the campus. Biogas and sewer lines, too. We disassembled and planned a refurbishment of the water feeds to the staff quarters. We surveyed a proposed narrow road bed down to the planned location for the animal pens and the biogas digester (future implementation). We met with the representative of the company that will supply the well pump to determine power and instrumentation needs. We’re half-way through and we’ve got so much to do to get this place ready for the kids in April!
Kenya Team, Day #4:
We got an early start today, leaving the bungalow for Giika at 7:15. A bouncy hour late we were there. Roman extended the waste water line for the staff quarters the length of the building and mapped out the down- and up-riser connections. The plumbing supply company arrived later this morning with more supplies that didn’t come in earlier. We directed the local labor in leveling and sloping trenches from the kitchen down in the direction of the biogas. Alaina and Mana laid the freshwater line as far as the bend toward the (future) biogas digester. Jack built and installed custom risers all day. Jake got to play civil engineer for about 90 minutes when he worked with the site foreman to design a rudimentary wooden bridge over a critical pipe run, to ensure that vehicle traffic doesn’t crush the pipes between the pump and the cistern.
Kenya Trip day #5:
Once again the day began with a stop at the local plumbing supply before heading to the campus. We scarred holes for the kitchen sink. Jack assembled the 4-riser manifold for the showers. Mana did the first Garman GPS walkaround of the campus. We were later able to upload the Garman treks to Google Earth and overlay our current campus. Mana and Alaina laid the pipe under the bridge and other locations around campus and later rolled electrical cable through the trenches. The team taught the locals how to thread pipe to spread the work load. Their work was as good as the plumbing supply company. Roman continued the risers construction for the staff quarters. We also took a break to celebrate Jake’s 55th birthday. Isaac, one of our local team members, sang a Swahili birthday song. Finally, the team received our Kimeru names from the locals, a wonderful gift.
Roman Stromeyer :“Mutabari”, which means “One who helps the people”
Jack Bacon: “Marete”, which means, “The bringer of needed things”, or, "One who provides"
Alaina Brinley: “Nkatha”, which means, “Respected and welcoming woman”
Mana Vautier: “Mwenda”, which means love.
James R. Mireles (Jake): “Mutuarusiu”, which means, “Courageous one” or, “Guardian”
Kenya Trip day #6: Our last day at the site!
After another final stop at the plumbing supply, we headed down. Jack finished scarring for the kitchen and Alaina, Mana and Jack installed in the risers for the kitchen hot and cold water and biogas. Alaina and Mana finished pipe joining. Roman finished out the sewer lines and fresh water lines for the staff quarters. Jake scoped out the staff quarters attic from a ladder to evaluate whether hot water lines could run the length of the building. We decided we will likely run the hot water lines along the outside of the building. We were able to see the pump installed this afternoon. That was a great treat. Finally, in a frantic rush to the sunset deadline, we all finished and installed risers for the showers, dorm toilet, greenhouse and kitchen.
2016 March Trip Summary
Kenya Team, Day #1:
We spent the day verifying and measuring trench runs, including doing a preliminary pipe laying, to confirm we had the pipe we needed. We inspected the plumbing at the staff quarters and inventoried what had been delivered vs. what we needed. Additional trench runs were planned and started by the local labor. We were very fortunate to be able to get both the electrician and the plumbing supply business owner out to help us confirm our equipment needs.
Kenya Team, Day #2:
Kenya Team, Day #2:
The team began the day purchasing additional supplies from a local plumbing business (the owner had been to the site with us). Pipe, joins, Ts, PVC cement, brass and steel fittings, etc. Once at the site we inspected the staff quarters plumbing and attempted some clean-outs and scoped out the existing infrastructure to determine what to replace and what to salvage.. We directed the straightening of trenches and the filling of some that it turns out we won’t need. We laid and cemented some pipe from the showers to the dorm for fresh and gray water. The gray water line will eventually feed all the way down the hill to a biogas digester planned for installation later this year or in 2017. We laid and cemented some of the early biogas lines alongside the dorm as well. (We also got a wi-fi modem so we can post updates to you fine folks!)
Kenya Team, Day #3:
Another stop at the plumbing supply business, followed by a busy day of cementing pipe runs. Water from the well to the cistern. Water back down from the cistern to the campus. Biogas and sewer lines, too. We disassembled and planned a refurbishment of the water feeds to the staff quarters. We surveyed a proposed narrow road bed down to the planned location for the animal pens and the biogas digester (future implementation). We met with the representative of the company that will supply the well pump to determine power and instrumentation needs. We’re half-way through and we’ve got so much to do to get this place ready for the kids in April!
Kenya Team, Day #4:
We got an early start today, leaving the bungalow for Giika at 7:15. A bouncy hour late we were there. Roman extended the waste water line for the staff quarters the length of the building and mapped out the down- and up-riser connections. The plumbing supply company arrived later this morning with more supplies that didn’t come in earlier. We directed the local labor in leveling and sloping trenches from the kitchen down in the direction of the biogas. Alaina and Mana laid the freshwater line as far as the bend toward the (future) biogas digester. Jack built and installed custom risers all day. Jake got to play civil engineer for about 90 minutes when he worked with the site foreman to design a rudimentary wooden bridge over a critical pipe run, to ensure that vehicle traffic doesn’t crush the pipes between the pump and the cistern.
Kenya Trip day #5:
Once again the day began with a stop at the local plumbing supply before heading to the campus. We scarred holes for the kitchen sink. Jack assembled the 4-riser manifold for the showers. Mana did the first Garman GPS walkaround of the campus. We were later able to upload the Garman treks to Google Earth and overlay our current campus. Mana and Alaina laid the pipe under the bridge and other locations around campus and later rolled electrical cable through the trenches. The team taught the locals how to thread pipe to spread the work load. Their work was as good as the plumbing supply company. Roman continued the risers construction for the staff quarters. We also took a break to celebrate Jake’s 55th birthday. Isaac, one of our local team members, sang a Swahili birthday song. Finally, the team received our Kimeru names from the locals, a wonderful gift.
Roman Stromeyer :“Mutabari”, which means “One who helps the people”
Jack Bacon: “Marete”, which means, “The bringer of needed things”, or, "One who provides"
Alaina Brinley: “Nkatha”, which means, “Respected and welcoming woman”
Mana Vautier: “Mwenda”, which means love.
James R. Mireles (Jake): “Mutuarusiu”, which means, “Courageous one” or, “Guardian”
Kenya Trip day #6: Our last day at the site!
After another final stop at the plumbing supply, we headed down. Jack finished scarring for the kitchen and Alaina, Mana and Jack installed in the risers for the kitchen hot and cold water and biogas. Alaina and Mana finished pipe joining. Roman finished out the sewer lines and fresh water lines for the staff quarters. Jake scoped out the staff quarters attic from a ladder to evaluate whether hot water lines could run the length of the building. We decided we will likely run the hot water lines along the outside of the building. We were able to see the pump installed this afternoon. That was a great treat. Finally, in a frantic rush to the sunset deadline, we all finished and installed risers for the showers, dorm toilet, greenhouse and kitchen.