Multi-Purpose Wheelbarrows!

We are back in Nairobi after spending two weeks in the three counties that our project covers.  We visited six distributions and five water pans in this round of travel.  Not only are these long distances away, but they are also very difficult to access or locate.  Bumpy, rough roads have become a normal, every day experience for us but this time we had the added challenge of using trails and fields to visit the water pans. The local chairperson for one of the sites was unable to direct us to the site since she walks the cross-country shortcuts and never goes along any of the roads.  A local person graciously guided our vehicle across a path that dead-ended at a wide, deep “ditch” that someone had dug across the path.  Apparently, prior to this, he had been requested to end his ditch a few feet before the road.  His response however had been that it is his property to do with as he wishes.  So we drove through some fields, zig-zagging between bushes and lots of low thorny trees. “Between” was not wide enough to prevent our vehicle from receiving many scratches but worse, a large thorn punctured our tire and some time later we were faced with a flat tire.  Such adventure!

One of the ways by which, as IRMs, we are required to assess the success of our project is to conduct individual interviews, as well as to convene focus group discussions.  We would like to share one such focus group meeting with you – as well as some neat photos to illustrate our story.

This particular gathering consisted of six women and four men who were waiting in the shade of the same tree.  This group lives “far from here” (the distribution site) – probably in excess of 20 km.  These younger women had two to five children each and three of them were carrying their youngest babies on their backs.  An older child had fallen asleep in one of the wheelbarrows that were very prevalent at this distribution.  This was a different form of food transport than we had noted in other areas.  We were informed that wheelbarrows are used for “everything” – carrying water, food, wood and apparently, they make good seats as well!

We were told that there has been no consistent rain here for four or more years.  The men do not have any employment.  “No, we are farmers.”  The one man has no farm and no employment but makes some money from charcoal burning.  However, there are very few trees left where he lives as many others do the same.

Elephants are a significant problem in this area.  As the drought continues, elephants make their way to the farms in search of water, eating the few items that are still growing.  They do a lot of damage to the fields and there have been three deaths in the area related to elephant-human interaction.  One man in the focus group was fearful for his family, as well as for his return trip to his home about 10 kilometres away since elephants had recently been sited nearby.  There is much frustration expressed at the slow response to control this situation. The elephants are protected by law and if you kill one, you will be imprisoned. (This same day there was a demonstration on the road between the two distribution areas we planned to visit that day.  The demonstration was in the form of a large tree that had been chopped down to totally block a much used road to Tanzania, as well as some tires burning on the road.)

In this group the women do not even have opportunity or access to any form of casual work. The group stated that they used to have a few goats each but they died due to lack of food and water. One has some chickens and her family is able to eat eggs.  Before the first food distribution most had one meal, and sometimes “white tea” (hot milk with tea) with no accompanying food – they consider this to be a meal as well.

Their water source is 38 km away.  It is a borehole and they must pay five shillings for 20 litres of water. Sometimes they use a donkey to help carry the water but there is only one donkey for 20 families.

All but one of the people in our “wheelbarrow” focus group live on a “shamba” (farm) consisting of two to ten acres on which they used to be able to grow maize, beans, cassava and watermelons. They are going to plant again in hopes of rain.  When asked how they manage to stay cheerful, they replied “We are used to this.” They expressed much appreciation for the food and are committed to working hard on the water pans as promised. They are very enthusiastic about the possibility of having a water source nearer to their homes.

We celebrate with those communities that have received some rain in recent days.  Several of the water pan sites – some new and some being deepened or widened – now have some water in them!  Even a small amount of rain will run into these locations due to their design and location.  The beneficiaries are so thrilled and inspired to see such promise!!