IN 2005, KRISTEN KOSINSKI LEFT FOR KENYA WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS.
She spent months traveling through the country, meeting with female leaders in several communities, and listening to stories about their lives, their hopes, and their struggles. Shortly upon arriving in Samburu, she met a women by the name of named Mariama, “Mama Mussa” Lekwale. She was impacted by Kristen’s determination and for the rest of the trip led Kristen around Samburu, introducing her to hundreds of women. Again and again, Kristen heard the same word:
WATER.
Inspired by this need, The Samburu Project was born. Together, Kristen and Mama Mussa drilled the first four wells before Mama Mussa unexpectedly passed in 2007. With the assistance of Mama Mussa's son, Lucas Lekwale, Kristen continued working in her memory. Together they drilled another 75 wells until Kristen resigned her position as Executive Director in 2015. Today, The Samburu Project continues in the footsteps of Kristen and Mama Mussa. To date we have not only drilled 149 wells, but have also expanded our programming for women and girls to further improve health, expand education, empower women, and support community growth in Samburu.
THE WATER CRISIS
703 MILLION PEOPLE LACK ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER
As a result, each year the water and sanitation crisis claim more lives through diseases than any war. In Samburu, water access impacts every aspect of life, from community health to education, gender equality, food security, and economic prosperity.
HEALTH
Every 85 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease.
EDUCATION
Time spent in search of water keeps children out of school.
EMPOWERMENT
Women can walk up to 12 miles every day in search of water.
GROWTH
Without water, both agriculture and the economy are limited.
ABOUT SAMBURU
The Samburu are a pastoralist community numbering about 310,000 people. Their land, covers 13,000 square miles-roughly the size of Massachusetts- and is located approximately 250 miles north of Nairobi. 1 This area is remote, arid and beautiful. The Samburu, known as the "butterfly people," are recognized by their decorative style of dress, their deep reliance on livestock and a tribal way of life. Traditionally, men graze livestock while women remain in a homestead called a "manyatta" with their children. Known for their beautiful beaded collars, women are tasked with household chores, the most important being the procurement of water. In Samburu, women spend their entire day searching for water. Girls do not attend school because they are expected to assist with this task. Communities suffer from disease because the water they can find comes from gaping, hand-dug, wells that are contaminated with bacteria. Every aspect of the Samburu life, from health, to education, women’s empowerment, and agriculture, is impacted by this problem; but, women and girls are impacted the most.