From Tragedy to Celebration

We recently talked with Stephen Sendito, the principal of Enkipai Comprehensive School, about the school's water source, and the conversation turned from practical concerns to painful memories.

He shared a story that no principal should ever have to tell.

The school is located about a kilometer (a little over half a mile) from the Mara River, and students frequently took turns walking there to collect water for the daily needs of the school.  Some students already walked as much as 10 kilometers (6 miles) just to reach school before they were asked to make another trip to the river for water.

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Like many schools in Kenya, this school provides lunch and tea each day, so water is an essential part of school life.

The principal was always concerned for the students' safety because of the wild animals that lived along the river. But during the rainy season, there was something even more dangerous—the river itself. He shared that, several years ago, an 11th-grade student was swept away by the flooded Mara River while fetching water. His body was never recovered. 

From that day on, every trip to the river carried a deeper sense of fear.

So when the drill rig finally arrived, it wasn't just another construction project; it was a celebration! Students, teachers, parents, and community members gathered around singing and dancing. They weren't celebrating water they could already see. 

They were celebrating the hope that a lasting solution had finally arrived.

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Now, instead of sending students to the Mara River, teachers can simply send them to the hand pump installed on campus. The fear, the dangerous journey, and the uncertainty will be replaced by something most of us rarely think about—a safe drink of water just a few steps away.

For the staff at Enkipai Comprehensive School, this simple change has restored dignity, provided safety, hope, and a brighter future for the entire school community. This school still needs a sponsor. If you feel compelled to sponsor this school, you can do so here, and write "Enkipai" in the comments section. 

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WAYS TO HELP:

• Join One Tribe - One Tribe is our community of monthly givers. 100% of your monthly gift goes directly towards sponsoring clean water projects in Kenya and Tanzania. You simply set the amount that works for you, and the cumulative effect of many like-minded individuals translates into incredible impact.

• Sponsor a Project - we have several types of wells and projects that you could choose to sponsor (either fully or in part). When you sponsor a well, you'll receive a commemorative book with location details, photos of the completed project and the people you've directly impacted.

• Start a Fundraiser - we make it easy to create your own goals and fundraising plan with our custom My Humanity Project page. You simply set up a project with a goal, and share the link with your friends and family. It's a great thing to do for a birthday or just to rally your friends together to create a lasting legacy.

• Church Partnerships - We partner with churches to sponsor projects, and this is a great way to create a missional focus for your church.

• Business Partnerships - We also partner with businesses sponsor projects over time. There are many ways to approach this; learn more about what partnership can look like on the partnerships page linked above.