„I’m a mother of five children and have adopted two orphans”, Doris Mulanda introduces herself to the visitor of Kukunga village in Kenia. All kids together form a family she has to care for as a widow. Today it’s easier than three years ago and that’s mainly because of two reasons: The founding of a women self-aid group and the construction of a sand dam.
It took us hours to fetch water
In the past time I had to get water along with my children from Mivukoni river, which is eight kilometers from here. The way to the river needed more than an hour, then there always was a queue. Often the waiting needed another hour. Then the way back – each day I spent around three to four hours on getting water”, the 53 year-old calculates.
With the building of the sand dam, that collects drained off water in a near, mostly dry riverbed and the connected well her life has become easier. Now the family lives a kilometre from the water source and there are no more queues. My children are enjoying the short way”, Doris Mulanda adds.
With the building of the sand dam, that collects drained off water in a near, mostly dry riverbed and the connected well her life has become easier. Now the family lives a kilometre from the water source and there are no more queues. My children are enjoying the short way”, Doris Mulanda adds. The dam in Kakungu she has built herself together with other women from the self-help group. This was a requirement for the participation on the project, that arche noVa is realizing together with the Africa Sand Dam Foundation in the Mukono district. All involved village communities have to contribute to the planning and implementation of the project. They tribute construction material and working power. The self-help groups are needed even after the construction. Doris Mulanda and the other women in the village have learned for example how to keep the well and the dam in good condition, how to raise their agricultural earnings with improved cultivation methods and watering and how to create a fund to pay the upcoming repair.
Our papayas and oranges are growing well.
Doris Mulanda is grateful for the achieved every day: “Our family has way more water than before. The amount has multiplied. Our family for example needs around 100 liters per day for the household and the cattle. Now we are watering also our garden and the fields of the cooperatively working women group. The papayas and oranges are growing well.” Today Doris Mulanda can spend a lot more time on her little farm than before. The earnings have risen significantly, so she can also sell the fruits now. Many of those the family eats themselves though: “Our eating habits have become more healthy”.
