A Year Later: Nzung'u Sand Dam

A year ago, generous donors helped build a sand dam for the Tei wa Nzung'u Self-Help Group in Kenya. Because of these gifts and our monthly donors, partners are able to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner Titus Mbithi with you.

Tei wa Nzung'u group members are very happy because the distance to water has been reduced to less than a kilometer after completion of their first sand dam. Just next to the sand dam, there are healthy and leafy kales and spinach growing. These act as the group's source of income, for whatever they don't eat themselves they sell in the local market.

Mrs. Mwendwa and her good friend, walking on all of the beautiful sand this dam has built up over the past year.

Kasyoka Mwendwa is the chairwoman in charge of this sand dam and its adjacent hand-dug well. She met us there to discuss the changes her group has witnessed since last year. "Initially, we used to get water from a river which is three kilometers away. We used to line up for long hours but currently, we only take 30 minutes. We now use the time saved to do constructive work like tending to vegetables. Watering our livestock is no longer a problem, and our cattle survive the dry season unlike before when water was a big problem. We have also established vegetable plots on our farms which act as a source of income," she shared.

And thanks to the surplus of water this sand dam provides, the adjacent well is able to pump clean, safe drinking water from the catchment area.

Mrs. Mwendwa pumping clean water at the well adjacent to this dam.

The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to four times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.