New experiences and progress made

After a wonderful Summer I'm definitely enjoying the colours of [Fall] Autumn and watching the little waterfall return in our local woods from the incessant rain UK is getting right now.

It's good also that volunteers are still travelling Kenya to volunteer during their spare time. Mona (a Winter/Spring 2010 volunteer) had only just emailed me about her plans to help the Volunteer Centre progress (or the VCVCK; Vision Community Vocational Centre of Khalaba), when Catriona confirmed her flight details. She'll be assisting the community throughout November and most of December, perfectly timed as Director and founder of the project, Amanda, is fantastically awaiting the arrival of her baby daughter at the end of November so she'll need all hands on deck!!!

I've also just sent over donated funds from Eleanor (a Summer 2009 volunteer) allocated to the Mercy Home Well project. The hydrogeological survey was completed September 24th and a photographer captured the girls fetching water for one of the last times from the spring. The bricks, sand, cement, wiremesh & ballast for the work have been purchased and we hope the work will commence soon. Catriona should be visiting the girls early December.
Unfortunately we're still waiting for the survey to take place at the Enkito community in Amboseli. Jeff of Staff of Hope assures us it will be completed shortly.
In addition to all this activity I've been studying at the School for Social Entrepeneurs. I was invited for the 6 month course and am so thankful I was as its turning into a vital force in progress, getting KO2 active, our community interest company, set up to support AVIF's work, as well as my own local community. More soon ....

Bringing water to Enkito's children

I've been chatting with Jeff of Staff of Hope, the Raleigh, NC funded drill team in Kenya.

Jeff is currently in Oloitoktok deep in true one-road country to the right of Amboseli National Park and about 90km east of Enkito.

In the next week the hydrogeological survey and environmental studies will be completed to determine how deep to drill the well for the village. We are busy fundraising for this drilling so please pass this video on and help where you can, donating to the website [top left].

Our volunteers; Emma, Shiv and Petr are busy helping with the community and teaching maths, social siences, environment studies and helping with English. Currently the children have to go home to eat during the break and it takes up a lot of time. Most schools can apply for funding for school meals and we need to assist the community in this but after February's severe drought killed so many of the maasai's vital cattle, they had to let go their 2nd teacher.

The women of the village are currently walking almost 8 km from the village to the nearest water point to get drinking water and there is no water available for the children when they are in school so please help us bring water to Enkito.