Development Pamoja Ltd

We are currently experiencing our rainy season. With it, we always see an increase in the number of farmers who want dams to be lined. This year is no different. We started this program in 2022 with the aim of lining 100 dams in 10 years. This month, we have passed 40 dams lined for 40 farmers. Combined, they harvest over 8 million litres of water. Of those 40 dams lined, over 80% have been lined by loans taken by women through their savings groups. The search for water is traditionally the work of women, and they know acutely the benefits of having water for the dry season. While we primarily focus on securing water for their livestock, the water is also used for other income generating activities such as growing vegetables. While some dam liner is provided at a subsidised price, the vast majority is provided as a long-term loan, with repayment done through the farmers' savings groups. It has proven to be hugely successful due to the commitment of the women we work with. We would especially like to thank the embassy of Ireland in Nairobi and the DairyMis farming discussion group in Ireland, who provide us with the funding to make all this possible. So far this month we have lined 3 ponds. Thankfully, April also sees children on their Easter holidays, which has enabled our chairman Karanja Mawe to keep an eye on our work. He likes to portray himself as a man of the people, so as you can see in the photos, he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Maith an buachaill!

Schools are currently on their Easter holidays. Before they closed Mary, our wonderful doctor visited a number of schools to provide sanitary towels to school going girls and conduct health talks. As always, we are indebted to the support of .are.riley, ensuring this project is now entering its sixth year. In the week before Easter, we combined this activity with the dispersion of water tanks to a number of schools we work with. We are very grateful to Fr. Francis McAuliffe, together with a charity shop in Kilrush Co. Clare who donated the money to purchase these tanks. Fr. Frank gave us the money to build our first clinic in 2014. Twelve years later, we are very grateful that he continues to support us.

All the love on the farm on Valentine's Day 💕 Happy Valentine's Day everyone