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Kandula Community Project

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Sub-Saharan Africa

Kandula Community Project

Project Overview:

Kandula Village is located in Mbooni of Makueni District of Eastern Province of Kenya. It is approximately 120 Kilometers (about 75 miles) southeast of Nairobi, the capital city. Kandula Community Project is made up of several community-based initiatives, but IPM support has been primarily used for improving the quality of children’s education. Currently, public primary school education is free of cost to families in the community, but primary schools require that children must complete two years of pre-school education in order to qualify.

IPM has supported this project as an Emerging Project since 2004. The Project also serves the community through the provision of safe drinking water from the Kyamutuo Springs and the provision of free pre-school education for two schools, Thii Pre-school and Kyamutuo Pre-Primary School. The Kandula Village Project is run by a retired school teacher, Susana Mutuku, who has worked tirelessly since 2002 to see that all of the children in her community are cared for and have the opportunity to receive an education.

Recent Accomplishments:
Thii Pre-school is completed and awaiting furniture. The children will start using the class in April 2008.

Number of People Directly Served by Project:
200 households (approximately 1200 people) will directly benefit from access to clean water and education for their children

Number of People Indirectly Served by Project:
Approximately 50 households (about 300 people) will gain from improved literacy levels

Goals for 2010:

To equip Thii Pre-school with desks, chairs, and a water tank

To construct and equip the Kandula Pre-Primary School

To train 300 women and 450 youth on micro enterprises and HIV/AIDS

To provide care and support of orphans, the aged, and widows who were affected by the violence caused by the disputed Kenyan Presidential Elections of December 27, 2007.

IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$10,250

Community Impact:
Since the spring well was constructed in 2007, It has become much easier to draw water. The wait time has shortened, there are less water-born diseases, and there are less people going to the hospital. Also, parents can send children to draw water without fear of them falling in.