By Andrea Helfer, Public Engagement Coordinator
On the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, within view of the capital city’s towering skyscrapers lies Kiambiu, one of Nairobi’s many tightly packed urban slums. Life is not easy for the 40,000 children, women and men who make the 0.5km² Kiambiu Slum their home. In fact the vast majority live in absolute poverty and in squalid conditions, surviving on less than $2 a day. But, there are glimmers of hope as water and sanitation initiatives harnessing the power and potential of local youth are causing a ripple effect of improvements in the lives of the poor.
The Need is Great!
Here, in Kiambiu Slum the water and sanitation situation have been abysmal for as long as anyone can remember. Human waste and garbage blanket the narrow alleyways and “flying toilets” (plastic bags filled with feces thrown into the streets) have become the most common form of waste disposal.
Access to drinking water has been unreliable at best. Water supplies are constantly contaminated by the omnipresent human waste. Those who have the means purchase overpriced water, often of questionable quality, from private vendors who siphon water from broken municipal pipelines. These oppressive living conditions provide a breeding ground for disease that places residents, particularly young children, at great health risk.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that improved water and sanitation services have been identified by Kiambiu residence as amongst their most fundamental development needs. What is unique about WaterCan’s recently completed water and sanitation project in Kiambiu Slum is the passionate involvement of local youth.
Environmental sanitation remains an enormous challenge for Kiambiu Slum although progress is being made.
The Strength of Youth and Innovation:
WaterCan’s African partner organization Maji na Ufanisi (Water and Development) (MNU) began working with Kiambiu youth in 1996 on waste management projects. Over time the youth came to view the great lack of sanitation facilities and clean drinking water as major development obstacles that they could personally have a hand in overcoming.
Under the guidance of MNU’s talented community development and mobilization staff, the group formulated and implemented a plan of action. Together they raised funds through garbage collection projects and invested proceeds in a plot of land on which they proposed to build a communal water and sanitation facility. MNU worked in collaboration with youth group members to submit a funding proposal to WaterCan to assist with infrastructure development.
WaterCan and its partner organizations have historically worked with women’s groups and other adult-focused groups at the community level. During the last cycle of community-based WASH projects, some investments were diverted to working with youth groups to find locally appropriate water and sanitation solutions. As in the case of the Kiambiu Youth Group, these investments have shown, thus far, to be very successful.
The Kiambiu Youth Group members participated heavily in the planning and construction of the new water and sanitation infrastructure—including a 6-stall communal latrine block with shower and a 10-litre water storage tank connected to municipal water pipelines. They subsequently received extensive training to adequately prepare them to operate, maintain and managed the new facilities.
Not only has the Kiambiu WASH project met a dire need in the community, it has also offered youth an opportunity to develop their trade and management skills, offered employment opportunities (construction, water vending, toilet cleaning etc.), reduced youth idleness, fostered community integration and social cohesion and offered younger children healthy role models. Former street kids and other youth in the community have become engaged, active citizens, to the point where some are now working with local government to improve governance and to monitor various environmental projects in the area. When asked how his life has been impacted by this WaterCan-funded project, Nelson Masiga, an Executive Member of the Kiambiu Youth Group shared that “This project has enticed young people to be active—it has given us so much courage”
Nancy Githaiga, project officer for MNU, notes that this is a very important project to share and learn from. “WaterCan was the first donor to support this type of project…. WaterCan planted the seed, and now we can see that the fruits of the tree will be big.”
The youth of Kiambiu played a huge role in planning and constructing the facilities. Through this project they gained professional trade skills in construction by working alongside local masons.
The Impact:
For as little as 2 Kenyan Shillings ($0.031CDN) Kiambiu residence now use the safe and dignified latrine facilities (children are free). Group members report that the new facilities are used over 1500 times each day.
A mere 2 shillings also purchases a 20-litre jerry can of clean drinking water and 3 shillings buy a shower. These costs are affordable even by local standards and a vast improvement over the cost of purchasing water from local vendors, which typically costs 50 shillings per 20 liters. These funds ensure that municipal water bills are paid, sewage is emptied, and the facilities are kept in good repair.
As a result of improved water and sanitation facilities, incidence of preventable diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhea have decreased noticeably. The overall environmental sanitation in Kiambiu continues to improve as residence, particularly children under the guidance of youth group members, become accustomed to utilizing the new sanitation facilities and improved hygiene practices.
While much remains to be done to fully address this burgeoning slum’s water and sanitation challenges, the youth community with support from WaterCan and MNU is certainly making significant strides in the right direction.
The Kiambiu Youth Group is comprised of over 130 members. The Executive include: (l-r) Stanley Majani, Nelson Masiga, Elizabeth Waithing, Charkles Ogutu, Gideon Wambua.
