OUR FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMME
The Foundation aims to build at least 250 plants by the end of June 2022 in several areas where the existing forests cover are threatened by deforestation, and where child labor targeting girls is on the rise (on average, the plant cost is Kshs. 70,000 which shall be disbursed as a grant to the members qualified).
Granted, this is a modest target where it is assumed only about 50 members per area will qualify in the mapped zones. (As part of the baseline survey we carried out between January and April 2022, about 3204 members qualified in all aspects of the programme – vulnerability, availability of cattle/ willingness to use pit latrine, and available manpower/ labor to keep the plant functioning).
ABLED DIFFERENTLY- THE WHEELCHAIR PROGRAMME
Dignity for the most vulnerable members of our society remain a priority area of focus. We work with partners to provide wheelchair support to members of the PLWDs in order to ease their movement.
At the policy level, we are working with many county governments towards ensuring policy enforcement of disability-friendly construction of buildings.
In the last ten years, we have distributed over 1408 wheelchairs across the country which have transformed lives of both young and old.
PROJECT DIGNITY
This is a programme that targets school-going girls with sanitary towels and other sanitary items and support.
In a study the Foundation conducted in 2019, approximately 42% of young menstruating girls – especially in rural and informal settlements – missed school for approximately 10 days every term due to lack of sanitary towels.
In the last three years, we have distributed sanitary towels to over 4000 school-going girls and continue to expand that support to reach hundreds of thousands more in dire need.
At the policy level, we are engaging relevant stakeholders to lobby for total elimination of taxes on sanitary towels and amplification of menstrual rights as human rights.
WATER FOR ALL
Water has become a conflict driver in our region. The effects of climate change have greatly exacerbated tensions between communities fighting and competing over depleting water sources.
As part of this intervention, the foundation has been working with partners and communities in both medium and long-term solutions.
We have worked with communities in purchasing of water tanks, construction of permanent water tanks, construction of water pans, and have now moved to drilling of boreholes which serve wider communities.
Studies have shown that if communities solved the water problem, they will have dealt with the multiple issues of food security, sanitation/ health, security/ peace and environment conservation.
Access to safe and clean water also reduces drudgery and in effect leads to more time spent on income generating activities and education for school-going children.
THE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
The Wanjiku Gitonga Foundation is overwhelmed with requests for humanitarian support coming from across the country especially from families suffering from draught.
The rains have failed in many parts of the country and it is estimated that over 4 million people are facing severe food shortage and lack of drinking water. We project this number to rapidly rise as long rains continue to fail and more and more areas continue to experience longer than usual dry periods.
While the government and other humanitarian agencies are providing immediate relief supplies, more sustainable solutions need to be initiated. One is provision of water.
Our work with communities in provision of water tanks and pans have shown that access to water is a sustainable solution to a people’s suffering.
Accordingly, our approach will be both short-term – provision of relief, and long-term – drilling of boreholes and provision of sustainable water supply to communities.
DONATE TO US
Give monthly/ lump sum to the Wanjiku Gitonga Foundation.
Your monthly or lump sum donation will go a long way in changing thousands of lives of those we target.
This will also help provide steady funding to Foundation’s interventions and activities that are aimed at transforming people’s lives in a sustainable and accountable manner.
Become our partner in changing people’s lives. One at a time!