Within the framework of this project, we are improving teaching conditions in schools, as well as assisting farming co-operatives of schools in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties in developing their earning capacity. We are also taking action to counteract the effects of climate change.

The schools covered by the project are located in rural areas and face regular power cuts. We are installing solar panels at each school to provide a safe, reliable and cost-effective energy source. We will also provide the schools with energy-efficient cookers for preparing meals for the students. The traditional cookers they have been using so far result in high firewood consumption, which negatively affects local forests. By installing energy-efficient cookers in each of these schools, we are contributing to reducing firewood consumption. In addition, we will hold training sessions on climate change and tree planting to raise awareness of environmental issues in the school communities. Students will participate in planting trees on school grounds to create small forest areas and increase the availability of local natural resources. We are also conducting training on solid waste management at each school. Together with the school community, we will set up a waste management system and establish school environmental clubs to manage the system. They will also take action to reduce the amount of waste generated and promote recycling.

The project also involves supporting the co-operatives by providing them with access to water, as well as assisting them in the development of entrepreneurship and earning capacity. We are helping them build sand dams and shallow wells to ensure that farmers and communities living in the area have access to water all year round. Sand dams help ensure not only a safe source of drinking water and hygiene for the community, but also agricultural development. We also help farmer co-operatives build solar-powered water distribution systems that pump water from the sand dams to storage tanks in their villages. These systems significantly improve farmers’ living conditions, save time spent fetching water and enable them to grow high-quality crops. In turn, the use of solar energy to pump water is beneficial to the environment as it is emission-free energy. We also train them in marketing, finance and agricultural entrepreneurship.

A total of 2,074 students and 145 teachers and staff from five schools, as well as 435 co-operative members and 15,696 local villagers, will benefit from this project.

Duration of the project: 1st January 2023 – 31st December 2023
Location: Kitui, Makueni, Machakos counties, Kenya.
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Partner: Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF)