Schoolchildren in Africa

This outreach project is made possible by a generous grant from Solar Monkey. ECOLIFE FOUNDATION and Save the Elephants believe schoolchildren are Africa's hope for a sustainable and politically stable future.

If children begin to understand their connection to the ecosystem, they will grow to become effective environmental stewards: breaking Africa's cycle of poverty and depletion. Science education is essential.

ELEPHANTS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN

There is a fundamental connection between preservation efforts to save elephants, and efforts to educate Africa's school children. Until local indigenous human needs are sustainably met, elephants — and other endangered species — will continue to be casualties in a war for human survival.

No amount of legislation or armed policing will matter against the human will to survive. Which is why ECOLIFE FOUNDATION believes preservation efforts begin first with people...

CYCLE OF FAILURE

In Samburu, northern Kenya, the primary cause of death is water borne diseases. On a daily basis local schoolchildren drink unclean and diseased water from the rivers in the area because their schools lack the methods necessary to collect potable water, such as wells or rainwater collection tanks. Lack of safe water and sanitation is the world’s largest cause of illness, with more than 2.6 billion people — forty percent of the world’s population — lacking basic sanitation facilities or safe drinking water sources.

Kenyan children are denied their right to education due to effort and time spent collecting water, and due to lack of adequate sanitation facilities in schools: more than 100 students share two pit toilets, greatly compromising their sanitation situation and increasing the incidence of disease. Additionally, families of these children are often semi-nomadic herders, therefore students often live at their schools in order to get an education. Without adequate housing, students stay at (drinking) bars in the nearby community for shelter, raising occurrences of abuse and rape.

Currently, many water programs in the Samburu region focus on water collection using wells. Wells create multiple challenges including high installation costs, need for maintenance dollars, and specific tools, parts and skills. Unlike the current systems used in Kenya, our water collecting system will take advantage of the infrequent but heavy seasonal rainfalls.

PHOTO: Students and staff pause in efforts to locate water. They are digging a pit well in a dry riverbed.

OUR 2008 GOALS

ECOLIFE FOUNDATION is initiating an innovative self-sustaining program to provide clean drinking water, solar energy, as well as safe and sanitary housing for the 100 elementary school children at West Gate School in Samburu, Kenya. We are installing and maintaining a rainwater collection system which includes solar distillation. In addition to providing a clean water system, composting toilets and basic solar energy, we plan to build dormitory facilities for female students plus add to existing facilities for male students.

ECOLIFE FOUNDATION
Samburu, Kenya
Outreach Project Coordinator
Attn: Bill Toone
PO Box 462845
PHONE (760) 535-6556
FAX (760) 737-6736
EMAIL

Your tax deductible donation makes this outreach project possible.