Every day, women and children in Samburu spend precious hours walking for water - time that could be spent in classrooms, studying, building skills, caring for family, or simply being children. That is why, this month, supporters across California stepped forward at our Walk for Water events: to take symbolic steps so families in northern Kenya no longer have to make that daily journey.
When a well is drilled, students gain more than clean water - they gain opportunity. Hours once spent walking for water can now be spent learning, attending school consistently, and dreaming bigger for the future.
As we continue celebrating 20 years of The Samburu Project, we are reflecting on the milestones that show what happens when students are given the support they deserve.
Next we’ll move on to the years 2012 and 2013. During this time, The Samburu Project drilled 22 wells, bringing clean water access to 16,300 people, including six well communities with primary schools - helping children stay in class instead of walking for water. Since then, those communities have continued to grow, and we’ve launched 9 menstrual hygiene programs and 5 Samburu Sisters workshops supporting women and girls with skills, resources, and opportunity.
This spring, young people in our own communities helped create change for young people in Samburu.
Through school partnerships, family participation, and Walk for Water events, students here are helping students there gain access to education, dignity, and opportunity.
Tribe Club at Mira Costa High School and our newly added Tribe Club at Redondo Union High School are actively engaging their communities in understanding the global impact of the water crisis, and rallying support at our 2026 Walk for Water in Hermosa Beach. At our Woodside Hike for Water event, Boaz Leleina joined us to share his personal story of growing up in Samburu - where access to a TSP well and the time it provided became a turning point in his life. He spoke about how the gift of water from strangers meant more than survival; it meant time to stay in school, continue his education, and ultimately pursue opportunities that brought him to the United States. All together, our spring Walk for Water events raised over $35,000 for clean water (and time) for Samburu families.
Access to clean water means more students in classrooms, fewer missed school days, and more time to focus on learning. It means girls can pursue their education with greater consistency and confidence. It is a powerful reminder that compassion has no age limit, and that young leaders, both here and in Samburu, are creating waves of impact across the world.
When clean water arrived in Sionta in 2012, something beautiful began to grow. Near the well, the community started a preschool under a tree (pictured above) - an early learning space made possible by convenient access to clean water.
Last year, we also launched our menstrual hygiene-focused Flow Team clubs at Sionta Primary School. These clubs create safe spaces for girls and boys to learn about health, dignity, and support in school environments. At Sionta, we witnessed something especially powerful: boys stepping into leadership roles, advocating for their female classmates, and understanding that challenges like access to menstrual hygiene are not only “girls’ issues,” but community issues. One student in particular stood out as he led conversations within the club, modeling empathy and responsibility as a peer leader who understood that when girls are supported, the entire school thrives.
Previous Issues:
MAR 2025
Bridging oceans, Building Access
For us, March feels a time to celebrate the power of community - how people coming together locally can create meaningful change that reaches across the globe. In the early years of The Samburu Project, neighbors and supporters joined forces to support families in Samburu…
FEB 2026
Beyond well drill - a lasting comittment
To TSP, true sustainability means showing up long after construction at our well communities is complete. It means returning, listening, repairing, and strengthening local leadership. Learn how help communities build the knowledge and systems to sustain their water sources for the long-term.
JAN 2026
Celebrating 20 years of impact
Founded in 2006, The Samburu Project began with a simple mission: provide clean water so women and families could thrive. As we celebrate 20 years of impact, join us in journeying through the timeline of our wells - and the ripple of transformation they’ve created.