December 2010
Follow us over the course of a year as we help the community of Matopeni in Nairobi, Kenya, build clean water and sanitation facilities.
It has been six months since we began following the work of Christian Aid partner Maji na Ufanisi (MNU) in the small Nairobi slum of Matopeni.
With the community’s new drains now complete, work is beginning on bringing clean water to the settlement and training people to manage their new facilities.
This month’s diary is slightly early. Many members of the Matopeni community, like the rest of us, are heading off to see their family for Christmas. We hope you enjoy the read!
Community training begins
Having campaigned to bring clean water and good sanitation to the settlement Arise and Shine, a community group for women living in Matopeni, will play an important role in maintaining the drains and taps.
MNU have provided leadership training to women within the group to help them take on this role.
They will receive further information in early 2011 about Kenyan laws regarding hygiene and the environment to ensure that the facilities are run in a way that is both legal and benefits the whole community.
While Arise and Shine have played a central role in securing support for this project, other groups are also keen to be involved in work that will transform their lives.
Along with members of two other community organisations, women from Arise and Shine will be attending further training in health and hygiene to reduce the incidence of diseases caused by poor sanitation.
Blessing Kithuku and her grandmother Lydia are looking forward to better health in 2011.
Christmas in Matopeni
Many people from Matopeni will be travelling to rural areas over Christmas to visit their extended family.
Despite the cost of travel, spending time away from the city and with family is an important part of Christmas celebrations for people living in Nairobi.
But it’s an expensive trip and families do everything they can to find money to pay for transport.
Money earned working on Matopeni’s drainage has made this far easier for many - an added Christmas treat for everyone involved.
