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Clean Water Initiative

Maasai Mara, Kenya

Led by Siteya Nabaala

The Clean Water Initiative supports the Oloonkerine community in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya through improved access to safe drinking water and sustainable community infrastructure. Led by Mama Dinah, a respected educator, activist, and women’s leader within the Maasai community, the project was created in response to the community’s long-standing lack of access to clean water. For many years, families relied on unsafe water collected from distant ponds, with women and children carrying heavy containers long distances back to their homes.

The Challenge

Access to safe drinking water has been one of the community’s greatest challenges. Before the project began, families relied on contaminated and unreliable water sources, impacting health, daily life, education, and food production. Women and girls often spent hours each day walking long distances to collect water for their households. The community also faced limited infrastructure and financial resources to support sustainable water systems and future maintenance.

Hand in Hand Supports

Hand in Hand partnered with Mama Dinah, local community leaders, and international supporters to help develop sustainable water infrastructure for the community.

borehole drilling

solar-powered water systems

water storage tanks

water distribution infrastructure

fundraising coordination

long-term sustainability planning

Global fundraising efforts, including support from relatives of Mama Dinah in Germany alongside Hand in Hand donors, made the project possible.

Borehole & Solar Water System

Work on the borehole began in October 2022, reaching a depth of 350 meters and successfully locating a reliable water source for the community.

In 2023, additional fundraising allowed for the installation of:

  • a solar-powered pump
  • two water storage tanks
  • supporting tank structures
  • a basic water distribution system

Today, clean water is supplied directly to the local school, significantly improving access to safe drinking water for students and nearby families.

Community Sustainability

Building a Sustainable Village

The Oloonkerine community established a local committee responsible for managing the borehole, tanks, solar pump, and future maintenance of the system. Community members contribute monthly funds toward repairs and long-term upkeep, helping ensure the sustainability and local ownership of the project.

Improved access to water has also created new opportunities for:

fruit tree planting

small-scale agriculture

vegetable cultivation

future community enterprises

The women of the community also continue creating traditional Maasai beadwork and are seeking broader opportunities to market their craftsmanship as a sustainable source of income.

Long-Term Vision

The next phase of the project focuses on expanding water distribution in three directions throughout the community, bringing clean water closer to family homes and reducing the physical burden placed on women and children.

The long-term vision is to support a healthier, more sustainable, and self-reliant community through access to clean water, agriculture, education, and women-led economic opportunities.

Project Impact

  • 350-meter borehole completed
  • solar-powered water system installed
  • clean drinking water supplied to the local school
  • community-led maintenance committee established
  • reduced reliance on unsafe water sources
  • agricultural pilot projects underway

Support This Project

Your contribution helps support education, food security, housing, and sustainable community development for vulnerable children and families in Togo.

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