ROTARY CLUB OF NAIROBI-LANG’ATA COMMISSIONS PHASE 1 OF OLOMAYIANA COMMUNITY PROJECT
A colourful parade of ululating Maa women welcomed members of the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Nairobi-Lang’ata, who had traversed dry and dusty Savannah roads of Kajiado County to commission Phase 1 of the Olomayiana Community Project last Saturday. They all came together to celebrate the coming to life of a transformative project set to benefit over 12,000 members of the pastoralist Maasai community.
Phase 1 comprised a supply of clean and purified water, improved access to medical care, handwashing facilities and PPEs, a nursery school furniture and toys and sanitary towels for the girls.
Speaking during the commissioning of the project, RCL President-Elect Kizito Makatiani expressed gratitude to the friends and family of Rotary for coming through in a big way for the people of Olomayiana.
“The highest form of service is uplifting a community who may never know your name, without expecting anything in return. We are thrilled that through the Olomayiana Community project, our children will enjoy learning, there will be better healthcare and our daughters will have the dignity and confidence to pursue their education,” noted Kizito.
The Early Childhood Development facilities were kitted with trapezium tables and chairs, stationery, books, charts and toys for the children. It was refreshing to watch as the children marveled at their donations of toys and books, many of whom were experiencing them for the first time. These aimed to excite their learning experience in a properly equipped classroom.
The clinic was upgraded with medical equipment, water purifier, wheelchair, Personal Protective Equipment for CCIA Welfare Society courtesy of Co-op Bank, blood pressure equipment, thermometers, steel cabinets with electrical wiring fully done. Ismail Omar, a community member contributed Oxygen Therapy kits.
The Club also set up two tanks for water harvesting, saving the women and young girls from the arduous role of carrying a 20L jerrican up to 22 kilometers each day. Among the Maasai, women and men in the community waste as much as 10 hours a day accessing water in the congested water point at Oltepesi for their domestic and livestock respectively.
The alternative is a small water pan filled with red algae and unfit for consumption. Yet, in dire times, animals and people risk their lives scooping the water to quench their thirst. The installation of the tanks ensures that the girls attend school and have access to clean and safe drinking water. The Club has an ambitious plan to sink a borehole and draw the water closer to the people.
Magdalene, an Early Childhood Development teacher noted that poverty continued to fuel a vicious cycle of regressive cultural practices such as early marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and child labor. Many of the children who are born into large families drop out of school due to lack of fees and the distance to the schools.
“It’s not uncommon to see the boy child preoccupied with moranism, sand harvesting, charcoal burning if only to make money. When they come of age, they are told they can marry young girls. The girls on the other hand are treated like a commodity and married off. We are grateful that Rotary came to give hope to our parents and children,” noted Magdalene.
RCL members also enjoyed a cultural exchange with people of all ages while encouraging each other. During the mentorship session with the teenage girls, Rotarians restored the dignity of about 261 girls with a year’s supply of sanitary towels and undergarments. This would give them the confidence to continue pursuing their education.
Article by: Emily Manjeru
The Rotary Club of Nairobi-Lang’ata whose President is Sarah Migwi was chartered on 31st August 2001 and has 117 members. The Club’s first President Alex Nyaga will be the next District Governor taking over from current District Governor Patrick Obath.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Nairobi – Lang’ata visit www.rotarycluboflangata.org
