Sanitation Promotion in Kisumu, Kenya
Over five million people in Kenya, or 42 percent of the population, lacks access to basic sanitation. Kenya’s sanitation conditions mirror the bigger picture: 42 percent of the world’s population lacks the security and dignity of a simple latrine. These sobering statistics motivated Lifewater International’s Laura Rose to sign up for a sanitation promotion trip to Kenya.

Lifewater International works to build the capacity of its indigenous partner organizations to address the global water and sanitation crisis through training in water development, sanitation promotion and construction, and hygiene education. In February 2007, Laura and other trained Lifewater volunteers facilitated two sanitation trainings in Kisumu, Kenya. They worked alongside Lifewater’s Kenyan partner organization to train teachers and members of local women’s groups how to promote sanitation and hygienic behaviors in schools and communities through participatory learning activities. Because the trainings took place at primary schools, they were able to see the conditions in which schoolteachers work and students learn. Each day involved participatory lessons where participants and facilitators interacted and learned together.

During her time in Kenya, Laura met a young girl named Agnes, a member of the health club at her school. Agnes lost her parents to AIDS and is HIV positive. Laura was encouraged to see the teachers at Agnes’ school planning to take the lessons they were learning to their school’s health club. Because Agnes is a health club leader, she will train her classmates in promoting sanitation and teaching other students about hygiene behaviors. Seeing that her work would benefit Agnes with improved health and tools to serve others, Laura experienced the deep satisfaction that comes with making a difference among those who need it most. “There’s nothing like it. Agnes taught me so much about hope and relying on God for strength.”