I have just returned from a month in Tanzania and am gently settling back into life on Salt Spring, happy to be welcoming spring. 

It’s been a while since I have been in touch and many things have transpired since i first reached out to you asking for your generosity in funding a well in Kimana. I have some updates. Some beneficial and some that have required lots of process and conversation on my and our partners/benefactors part. 

We are now fundraising for an additional $15,000. We have already raised $10,478. $750 of which went into procuring spices, and packaging, etc.  Donate here.

The learning I have undergone so far is far richer and more complex than i knew at first. At first it seemed there was an easy and straightforward water solution for Kimana. The good news is: there IS a solution, and we can all be part of it. The challenge is that it will be more complex and costly than expected. 

It is of utmost importance to me to be accountable to you as donors, and to the community in Kimana. As the person holding both ends of the cord, I am updating you. I will try to keep it short and to the point, and include as much accountability as possible.  If you want any more details, please reach out ot me. I am excited and happy to talk about any and all aspects!!

I am grateful to the folks — international development experts, engineers, community members and funders —   whose experience working with these types of projects have offered insights and a way forward.

I will get right to it: 

1, The original partner I had planned to work with, Water to Thrive (based in Texas) only installs hand pumps. We learned that there is only deep water in this very arid and dry part of Tanzania.A hand pump cannot  pump the water to bring to the surface. We opted for drilling a deep bore hole and solar pump. 

2, After much research into cost-effective and licenced deep bore hole  and solar pump companies,  we discovered that it is much more costly to drill in Tanzania than in Zimbabwe, where I am used to working in collaboration with partners there. 

3, Due to the beautiful web of connection of caring folks, I was introduced to a Thetis Island NGO  who have been working on similar water projects on Tanzania. SOAS (Schools Orchards Africa Society) have been a shining north star guiding me to the right people and NGOs on the ground in Tanzania. One of the members of SOAS directed me to an organization who has been successfully drilling deep bore holes in Tanzania for many years now, who are happy to take this project on. 

4. Enter GAIN (www.globalaid.net)  They are  an international faith-based organization with a local chapter in Langley BC who have successfully drilled 2,872 deep-capped wells  in Africa since 2002. GAIN are in the process of buying their own drill rig, which will bring the cost down by  $10,000! Their rig will be up and running by September and they are pleased to act as the contractor for this project at a steeply discounted rate. 

5, We are still working with KINNAPA ( www.kinnapa.or.tz),  the local organzation who will be doing the community work. Their work  involves settling up a committee and bank accounts in Kimana, and doing gender sensitivity, hygiene and sanitation training in advance of the arrival of plentiful water. . We are also working with a Tanzanian member of SOAS who is yet another guiding star. Gideon Makara, who is Maasai and speaks perfect English, has already volunteered countless hours of his time and experience on this project and has the local community knowledge and trust to make sure it is a success. Makara will be coming to Canada in September and we will have the honour to hear first hand from him about his life, this project, and the focus of his extensive volunteer work in Tanzania. 

So.. we have a solid chair with four partners : KINNAPA (local community based organization), SOAS (Thetis/Duncan based NGO), GAIN ( location organization with tools & technical capacity), and Practical Permacutlure Institute. 

This brings us to the next steps….  and to you:

1. In spring 2023, a hydrogeological survey will be complete.  Your donations have allowed us to take on this work: thank you. We will know then how much, and where, the deep ground water is. 
   
2. The quote I have been given by GAIN is $24,000. We have already raised $10,478.
   
3. Since one of our partners GAIN, is a faith-based group, i want to know how you feel. I am very sensitive to the  challenges and risks of working with a Catholic organization. Based on concerns about the motivations and expectations of GAIN, I I have done the ground work with the Maasai, especially in Kimana, to discover what their attitudes are towards colonial religious framworks. The community members I am working with are already practicing Lutheran Christians: while they attend an outdoor church multiple times a week, they also maintain indigenous Maasai customs and practices. When I consulted with them, they see absolutely no problem with GAIN coming in and doing this work. For them,  the resulting life improvements due to access to clean water are clear: better health, flourishing of food security, and gender equity. To use just one example, with a well,  girls will be able to attend school instead of spending the whole day carrying water.  

The conversations I had with my friend Lalakwa ( a community leader who is my main liaision) can be summed up as follows: because the church has already been in the community for decades now, his community have been able to discern what parts of Christianity work can be integrated into their culture and lifestyle…  and which parts cannot. This wise capacity to discern doesn’t surprise me, as the Maasai are people that are practical and deeply attuned to each other, and the Earth.  I am confident that whomever comes in teaching anything,  will be sifted through with only the seeds of benefit growing. 

I am committed to a decolonizing approach that emphasizes local wisdom and decision making. Since the community have co-developed and endorsed this plan, I have to put aside my own qualms about having one of the partners being faith-based, and be respectful of the experience and wisdom of the people who will ultimately benefit from this work.  

I clearly stated to GAIN that the only donor money that i bring is to go directly to building the well and solar pump, and no money is to go to church work. They consented to this without any issue. If you are concerned about  part of your contribution  going to this organization for engineering work, please let me know and I will happily refund you. 

If you still want to support the community without involving the GAIN organization, donations for the well project can be made directly to me via my website: here.

I know there a million and one places your money can go that benefits the planet and the people. Thank you!! 

Please reach out to me for more details or to follow up with questions/concerns. 

Melanie

Meet our Partners 

GAIN (www.globalaid.net) will be leading the survey, drilling and solar pump installation. They have successfully drilled 2,872 deep-capped wells  in Africa since 2002. GAIN are in the process of buying their own drill rig, which will bring the cost down by  $10,000. Their rig will be up and running by September, and Kimana will be third in line in September/October.

 KINNAPA ( www.kinnapa.or.tz),  the local organzation who will be doing the community work. This involves settling up a committee and bank accounts in Kimana, and doing gender sensitivity, hygiene and sanitation training in advance of the arrival of plentiful water. 

 We are also working with a Tanzanian member of SOAS Gideon Makara, who is Maasai and speaks perfect English. He has already volunteered countless hours of his time and experience on this project and has the local community knowledge and trust to make it is a success. Makara will be coming to Canada in September and we will have the honour to hear first hand from him about his life, this project, and the focus of his extensive volunteer work in Tanzania. 

A holding tank built by GAIN in a neighbouring community

Taps and holding tank built by GAIN in the neighbouring community.

Yandi, Mulalo and Melanie in Kimana.