SOLVATTEN NEWS

The Soroptimists for women, independence and trees

The Swedish and German Soroptimists have implemented several Solvatten projects in Africa and Nepal. Some of their latest commitments are dedicated to four Kenyan villages; Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru an Maseno. The objective was to reach the most vulnerable people in the areas through local groups, to provide them with a tool to have clean, hot water at home.

Elizabeth Juma Inwonga is one of the women in Kisumu who received a Solvatten through Gita Women’s Group. The community is using unsafe water from the nearby rivers for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The highly contaminated water cause illness and disease, especially during the rainy season as the floods carry garbage and heavy pollutions upstream. Elizabeth, who is taking care of a household of 10 persons, explains that her family has been visiting the hospital about 7 times a month to treat waterborne diseases. Solvatten will improve their health and save them money previously spent on medication and healthcare.

In the city of Meru, Solvatten was distributed through the local Neema Group – a support group for people with disabilities. The members of the group face hard difficulties to many of the daily chores and many are completely dependent on family members help. As a result of the felling of trees, the area is facing environmental destruction. Bare soils along the river banks are heavily eroded during the rains and completely dried up in the dry seasons. A project called ”Fruitable Water Source” combined the issues in one solution through Solvatten! The condition was to plant 10 trees on one’s farm, in exchange for a Solvatten unit. The planted trees will have a positive effect as they will provide shade and fruit as a source of income, and the demand for cutting down remaining trees decrease. A win-win-win solution, for people and planet.

This is historical! I’ve been solely depending on my wife because of my dysfunctional hands and legs. Solvatten is making me more independent! Also, I can give back to the community by offering them safe water for drinking.

— Patrick Gitonga, beneficiary of Solvatten in Meru.

The positive work of the Soroptimists has caught interest in media. In an article in Reuters, a journalist has highlighted one of their previous projects in Emuchimi, Kenya.

 

You can read the article here!

 

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