£1200 raised for a Kenyan Water Project The event took place at St. George’s Church Barnsley from 12.30pm till 4.00 pm on 19th June 2010.. The events coordinator Mike Skiffington, in cooperation with the Exodus Project organised the charity gala for the Gacharu water project founded by Rev. Benson Kimaru two years ago. The event raised £1200 towards the supplies needed for the water system within the Gacharu village in Kenya. The activities of the day included bouncing castles, train rides, live entertainment presented by Monika Godlewska, Christine Kimaru and Mike Collins. There was plenty of international foods and various stalls. A Kenyan born Bishop from London Known as Vanessa graced the event and was quoted during her speech, “I wish this project started when I was still a young girl so that I wouldn’t look as old as I am due to all the labour I went through of fetching water.”The event attracted approximately 200 people including children from Penistone, Wakefield, Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley. 6000 people of the 24000 in Gacharu village-Kenya are now drinking clean piped water. We need to raise enough cash to reach the target of the remaining 18000 people. A trip is being organised to visit Kenya next year.
Gacharu Village Water Project (one of the early stories) (By Benson Kimaru) Benson have embarked on a project to supply the village of Gacharu, where he comes from, with piped water. About 15 years ago, the people of the village tried to raise the money themselves and were able to construct some small water tanks but the project stalled as the funds raised were insufficient to complete the project. The total cost for installation of water would be KSHS. 206,600, approximately £2,000, though the fluctuating exchange rate complicates matters. Piped water to the village would result in a dramatically improved quality of life for the villagers:
I) Improvement in women’s health.
Culturally, fetching water is women’s work. The women travel a minimum of 3 miles to the well or river, sometimes more, and most women end up suffering from continual fatigue. This can often result in complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
II) Household needs.
Most homesteads in the rural village have at least 7 family members – two parents and children - sometimes more, often, children orphaned by HIV Aids are added to the family.
III) Livestock needs.
Most homesteads own a cow or two and the women have to fetch water for these as well as the family.
IV) Agricultural.
Piped water would enable families to grow various kinds of vegetables for food. Hunger is common in the village. In early June 2008, Benson’s father told him that everyone at home is very worried because the rains stopped when the crops were still too young and the prospects of a good harvest are zero. Benson says that the Kenyan President has reported that, owing to the lack of rain, there is hunger in many places in Kenya and the government has bought 3 million bags of maize to be distributed to the people to stave off starvation.
V) Housing. People build their own houses and outhouses of various sorts using mud. Of course, water is needed to add to the soil and a great deal of water is required for this purpose, all of which, naturally, has to be carried by the women. The Gacharu Water Project is being supported by Churches Together Penistone and District as well as St Saviour’s church Thurlstone and the Art at the Altar group are dedicating 20% of the funds that they will raise in November 2008 in St John’s to this cause. When the work is completed it will be the answer to many fervent prayers.
Dear Joseph Kibuchua, Development coordinator Diocese of Kirinyaga P.O Box 95 Kutus Kerugoya. Thanks
for giving me the Bishop's contact. So far clean piped water piped have put. First phase tapped water from the main pipe along Sagana Kiangwachi road to both compounds of Gacharu church and scool. Phase two tapped water from near Kinyakiiru to my house. In both the phases it is expected people whose homes the water pipe has passed by can have access to the water for their homes. Some kshs. 17,000 (seventeen thousand) was also given out to construct a well in a home in Githua-ini. My wife and I have also engaged in a commitment to meet Kshs 5000.00 monthly and as we can afford towards the services of an Evangelist/lay-reader attached to Gacharu church. I would also be happy if there is a way the kshs 5000.00 can be chanelled through the diocese? Please
note that before I replied this email, I talked with the Bishop and he supports
your going to help the Gacharu Village Water Project in preparing a/cs returns
professionally as well as the way forward for greater continuity of the
project. I have also requested the Vicar not to allow any further expenditure
of the project money until you have helped the committee to do proper
accounting of the expenditure. Everybody should understand that you are not
going to investigate? Your role is to help put returns properly in a way they
can be presented to the donors. Rev'd. Benson Kimaru | will you join? Involvement with the Gacharu Water Project can be rewarding, for example by providing opportunities for personal development as one gathers their skills through the activities of the charity and at the same time gain new skills and experience Charity chosen 24th Barnsley (Emmanuel Methodist) Guides have chosen the Gacharu Water Project to be their charity for twelve months from September 2010. Leaders are:- I) Sarah Monks II) Kay Stubbs III) Leanne Stubbs Girls are:- i) Poppy, ii) Sally iii) Grace iv) Mia v) Hannah vi) Isabel
Interesting coincidence.
As I was passing by St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Penistone, Pat Becket beckoned at me from the church. ' I was looking for somebody who can pray for and with me,' said Pat with tears rolling down her face. For the next thirty or so minutes I prayed with her for the needs of her son in America. We picked a bible from the church and I read to her Philippians 4:4-7,'Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again. Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. She told me that she wanted to call me and present some money for Gacharu Water project in Kenya. She continued to say that now that the Lord has brought us together let us go to her house so she can give me the money. It was £37.00 she had kept, and forgotten about since she moved house from Kent to live in Thurlstone in 2001. The money had been donated for refreshments supplied by her when she conducted Antenatal classes at the local Maternity hospital in Kent around 1997 or so. She wrote a cheque of £62.00 to make a total contribution of £100.00 for the Gacharu Village Water Project. Pat was also the first donor for the Gacharu Water project. She donated Kshs. 60.00 she had kept since 1994 after visiting Kenya for a holiday and celebration of her 50th birthday. Pat confided to me that after her Kenyan holiday she fell in love with the country and its people.
Written by Benson Kimaru |
