Joys of 2011: Good Dams

Another work-related joy for this year was the development, submission and ultimately the approval of a project to build 12 sand dams in the MIDI area.  Since we arrived in Kenya, we've been hearing from MCC people about sand dams.  After visiting Kola and experiencing the transformative power of a well-run project, we began praying for something like that in our community. Check out a blog we wrote on May 4, 2009 for more of our thoughts on sand dams.   It took a few years, but now we're finally there.  After working several months with Alvera Stern and the MIDI staff, we developed a concept paper, no small task in and of itself.   Multiple delays plus the on-going economic slowdown (which put downward pressure on funding) meant that it was months before we heard much good news.  In June, we learned that a single donor had given over $35,000 and had chosen to fund the first year of the MIDI project.  Then, after changing a concept paper to a formal proposal and many re-writes, we got the green light.  The project started in December and will run for three years.  Our dream is to see a dam built before we leave, and moreso, to come back in a few years or decades and not be able to recognize this community because it no longer needs to beg for food and water.

The water is stored within the sand behind concrete walls, built in dry riverbeds