Beyond Water -  Equip Her (by Sharon Crean)

 
Recently I was in Northern Uganda where our team were building a block of toilets for the girls at a school. From around 1986 until 2008, the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) had wreaked havoc in the area. It became widely known for atrocities of war and the use of child soldiers. 1.5 million people were displaced. 
 
War always brings in an influx of international funds, emergency services and media. Once it ends, everyone leaves – especially support services.
 
It is at this time that development needs to happen, but often doesn’t. It takes more than a generation or two to recover from war.
 
Development is brought about by empowering children, most especially girls and providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive in their education. This is not only a matter of equity and justice but also a strategic investment in the future. Educated girls and women have the potential to positively impact families, communities, and societies in so many ways. Therefore, it is important to equip them and avail all the amenities they need to stay motivated to focus on developing themselves and blossoming them into impactful women in the society. We not only were able to give the school a second set of latrines but also reconstruct the shower block for the girls. Now they have privacy and dignity when bathing and toilets that are clean and usable.
 
Development takes time. Development takes money. Development transforms communities. Development leads to self - sufficiency.
 
Thank you to our donors who make our work in recovering communities possible. We appreciate you all.
 

Sharon Crean
Global CEO

 
 
 
Impact Tours
 
   
 
Before we delve into this month's content, we have some good news for all of you. As mentioned in a previous newsletter we will be holding Impact Tours in April and August next year, specifically for those who support The Girl Project in any of our projects based in Nairobi. These are limited to 5 spaces only so that you get to know the student better and build lifelong friendships. The 10-day tour includes meeting the family of the student you sponsor and take them a food parcel, visit some of the tourist attraction sites in Nairobi, try out some of the local foods, visit one of the schools that BeyondWater has been working in and lastly go for a walk or bike riding.
at Karura Forest amongst other activities. 
 
Our Nairobi - based team will look after you well right from the time you land at the airport until you leave. Kenya is a wonderful place to visit either on its own, or part of your longer travel plans. You’ll be staying in a lovely guesthouse and have all your meals catered for. If you would like to extend your trip to Kenya and experience more of what we have on offer, we can arrange these. If you are interested in joining one of our visitation teams, please email us and we’ll send you out further information. 
 

Shower Her

   
 
Before and and in progress of the showering facilities for the girls
 
Our team visited Doves Valley Primary and Nursery, a school in Northern Uganda last month and they shared some of the stories and projects done during the 2 weeks they were there. One of the projects they managed to do was to refurbish the shower facilities for the girls who board there. Previously, their bathrooms were doorless which forced the girls to put a cloth or hang their towels across the door posts just to get some privacy while taking a bath. If the cloth falls that gets them exposed making their dignity to be lost. Since the school does not have a fence and this is the main route for the villagers to go to the community water borehole, this means anyone can pass through the school unceremoniously and the biggest risk they are exposed to is sexual harassment from boy students and other the male counterparts that could be passing by near the poorly constructed facility. To curb this, the facility is now properly built, and the girls can now clean up comfortably.
 

The New Girl Project

Earlier this year we started a Girl Project called Step Up in Nairobi and we were super grateful. Now we are overjoyed that we got a new member in the family, that is Girl Project Uganda. We have been able to sign up 16 teenage girls from 10 – 16 years of age and we have one of the staff members to facilitate the program there and we are looking forward to grooming these girls to find their purpose and meaning in the societies. As we equip them with practical life skills, we are also needed to alleviate the young ladies from menstrual poverty. Giving them sanitary packs and health products occasionally will go a long way as they strive to get better quality education comfortably and make something out of themselves and help other girls as well as the society at large. This also give them to focus more on their studies as their dignity and overall body hygiene are kept intact. Holding these stories and testimonials at hand hopefully will motivate you to support us provide these basic facilities to these young ones full of passion, dreams, and aspirations. Together we can improve their educational lives by donating through this link. Remember, you’ll get a taxable deductible receipt upon making the donation.
 
 
The girls from the sitting in for their first Girl Project Session held by our team
 
We are so grateful for your support. If it wasn’t for your commitment and dedication, all these projects could just remain good thoughts and pipe dreams. Thank you so much.
 
Donations welcome! Our donation details are

Australia:  BSB: 032-324, Account Name: BeyondWater, Account Number:187568 
Reference:Your name

New Zealand: Westpac Bank, Account Name: Beyond Water
Account Number 03 –1519 – 0040118 – 000, Reference:Your Name

Kenya: Equity Bank, Account Name: BeyondWater Foundation, Account no: 145 026 365 9392
Reference:Your name

All donations will be receipted. Thank you!