Sand dams for drinking water (Kenya)
The question of how to use water as a resource efficiently – an important question with regard to environmental protection – is especially important for future generations. In developing countries, in particular, the local population does not only lack sufficient drinking water, but water is also a scarce resource for subsistence farming. In the dry and hot districts of Makueni and Machakos in Kenya, southeast of Nairobi, most of the rivers only carry water during the rainy season.
Rainwater seeps into the ground, and rivers dry out within only a few days. The association arche noVa e.V. is implementing a project for harvesting rainwater using dams made from sand bags or small rocks or boulders. They help to store water and prevent the drying out of soil. This allows people to access drinking water more easily and also lays the foundation for sustainable subsistence farming. In addition, the funds are used to support four tree nurseries, seed banks for cultivating drought-resistant seeds and extensive training measures. More than 14,000 inhabitants benefit from the project, which has been supported by the Wilo-Foundation since 2016.
Our funding partner:
Arche noVa – Initiative für Menschen in Not e. V.,Dresden is a recognised relief organisation that supports people in need in more than 15 countries and works to alleviate their suffering. One of the priority areas of the association, which was founded in 1992, is to secure the supply of drinking water for people in developing countries and to provide help for self-help in these countries.
