We focus our support on the countries from which innocent drinks buys its fruit. We've agreed however, that we also want to support countries with real need, but who don't currently produce fruit in large enough quantities to meet their demands.
Our partnership with Excellent Development falls into this category and is one of a number of partners we are working with on three year projects in Africa, supporting communities to build their infrastructure, skills and the quality of their produce.
This project is working with the Kamba people in Makueni District of southeastern Kenya. It will directly benefit 1,200 people and have an impact on 5,000 across the region through funding the activities of the Meka Self-Help Group, (SHG). The area is semi-arid and the project will enable these disadvantaged rural communities to improve water supplies, building small scale sand dams. They'll also set up a tree nursery, terrace land and start a sustainable seed bank to improve food security and income.
Excellent Development helps disadvantaged communities in Africa, and a combination of their previous experience in the region and the eroded environment led them to choose this area of Kenya for our joint activities.
This southeast region of Kenya is semi-arid and suffers from poor soil fertility and rainfall, making it a marginal agricultural area prone to food shortages. Working with local self-help community groups to challenge these problems however, real progress is being made.
Our funding ishelping to support the 58 families of The Meka Self Help Group (SHG). In 2006 the Meka community lost 15 people to typhoid in one month caused by collecting water from apermanent river 10km away, so focusing on clean water supplies has formed an important part of the programme.
Objectives Update : May ‘07
Thus far, we are very pleased to report that the Meka group have met or exceeded the majority of their aims for 2007. It means they have already started work on the 2007/8 ones. Their achievements include:
- The five planned dams have already been completed, and
more sand dam have been agreed. Since being given the means to access clean water there have been no more reported water-related deaths. - Havingalready exceeded their terracing target, the SHG members have dug another 834m, bringing their totalto over 5km.
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Meka sufferedfrom a severe drought at the beginning of last year. It is therefore a real achievement that 3,972 trees were planted and survived against a target of 4,500.
- The first cycle of the community seed bank programme was completed successfully, reaching the target for seeds returned to the bank. This has created a start point for achieving food security which requires three seasons’ worth of seeds to be stored.
Community Development Philosophy
A vital principle of Excellent Development's work is that communities decide on their own goals, and contribute to their project's implementation and sustainability.
Every project starts with people organising themselves into self-help community groups, focusing on their own needs and priorities.
It means dams are only built where communities want them and this is demonstrated by their willingness to collect all the water, sand and stones required for construction. This amounts to 50% of the total building costs. Because community groups build the dams themselves, they not only make sure they are built right but they also have ownership and are committed to the benefits they bring. By terracing land around the dam, they improve its effectiveness; by owning them they ensure the low maintenance required is carried out when needed.
Joshua Mukusya, the Kenya Programme Manager says: 'Since we started working together in 1985, we do what the people want rather than what we feel is necessary. We don't go to groups with set goals; we hear what they want and understand their thinking so that we can help them move towards their goals.'
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