Mukuyuini Flows Forever is the name of the water project that Forest Lake Rotary is leading. The effort to bring water to the village was started by a woman with a difficult story; upon return to Kenya after years away, she started an organization whose goal is to bring water to a village in central Kenya. Forest Lake Rotary has a partner club in Kenya, Masaai-Mara Narok, that is reasonably nearby.
Kenya is on horn of Africa. Per capita income is about $1000, and the population is around 53 million. The project area is rural, located near a national game preserve. The goal is to drill a borehole well, install a solar pump and storage for 22,000 liters of water, then ultimately to build a distribution system for water to provide easy access and a means of payment. Fred showed a photo of the previous wellhead for another project, also had photo of distribution center created.
Current water sources for the village are both distant and unsafe. There is risk from both human and wild animals, and surface water is often contaminated, carrying the risk of disease.
Fred said that the project still needs to raise about $40,000. Fred also pointed out the leverage that District funds will be used to amplify club contributions.
The big gain from this project is that children’s lives will be saved. The overall price of the project is about $85,000. Timeline is to complete app by end of 23-24 Rotary Year, then work to get started in August, finish up by December. Fred also noted the role of RI in vetting the finances and requiring reports after the project is complete and a follow-up report one year after, sustainability being an important emphasis for projects.
About the Speaker: Fred Rau is a Rotarian of some 30 plus years, most of which were spent in Litchfield, MN, where he served as President twice and did another water grant in a different part of Kenya. Fred and his wife owned and operated a garden center and landscaping business in the Litchfield area for over 25 years. They have two children and four grandchildren, three of whom live in Lino Lakes, MN, which is why they now live in Hugo, just south of Forest Lake. Fred is the self - designated “International Projects Chair” of the club.