Site Visits Following the African Women and Water Conference

This water sources serves livestock and 5 families in South Africa. Amazingly this water proved to be devoid of E. Coli and fecal contamination after tests using the Portable Microbiology Lab.



Collecting water for water testing from the water source shown above.

Portable Microbiology Lab water tests performed during the WASH/RWH workshop in Amahlubi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Zama, Sizani's niece, and Gemma using CAWST WASH educational materials during a workshop.

Digging the fountation for the storage tank platform was the first step of the implementation of the rainwater harvesting system in Amahlubi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Gemma and the members of the Amahlubi women's group at the end of the WASH training.

Sizani Ngubane and Gugu Eunice Hadebe demonstrating how to fill a plastic pipette for the Portable Microbiology Lab water test.

Sizani Ngubane explaining the design of a rock catchment for rainwater harvesting.

Assembling a sanitation ladder to examine better practices for sanitation within the community.

This water requires some filtration!

Children fetching water from their water tap. These children are lucky because their water source is within their housing compound. Some of their peers have never known the luxury of having access to water so close to home.

Sizani Ngubane holding a training for a new community group wanting to join the Rural Women's Movement.

Informal living settlement in Amahlubi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Spring water source in Trans Mara, Kenya which is subject to contamination from drinking livestock, humans, and laundry activities.

This rainwater harvesting system is in need of some repairs!

Gemma and the women of Emayian Women's Group

Carrying water for the construction of the rainwater catchment tank platform.

Amahlubi, KwaZulu-Zatal community training-the women here are sorting pictures based on good, bad, and in-between WASH behavior.

The Maasai women of Emayian Women's Group in Kenya surveying their shared water source.



A Maasai elder discussing the community's water situation with Lucy Mulenkei.



The open water source near Alice’s (chiarman of Power Positive) house; can you imagine this being one of your main sources of water? Remember it’s shared by the local livestock.


A meeting with a group of Power Positive women to explain the importance of WASH and safe water; these women are all widows and are all living with HIV/AIDS.



A Power Positive grandmother!

Benta demonstrating how the pump for this water source is broken and therefore unused by the community.

Mariah and Gemma with Benta Akal and Alice, chairman of Power Positive at the Power Positive office in Kendu Bay.

The BioSand water filter installed at a local canteen; ever since the word got out that the BioSand filtered water is effectively cleaning the drinking water, this canteen has seen an increase in business, especially from local matatu (public transportation vans) drivers.

A source of local drinking water in Kenya-water vendors line up to fill their jerricans at communal tap stands and then pull their carts through the streets selling to canteens and households.

Norma Adhiambo and the African Women and Water Conference baby; Norma was scheduled to be a trainer of the BioSand filter at the Conference but stayed home due to the imminent birth of her new baby girl.

A Portable Microbiology Lab water test taken of water from water cart vendor; the left sample is contaminated with E. Coli-an indicator that this water source has had recent fecal contamination and the right sample, taken from a local canteen’s newly installed BioSand water filter is free from bacteria.

Elizabeth Akinyi of GWAKO Ministries explaining the results of the PML water test and the good news that the BioSand water filter has made their water safer for drinking.

Water tests using the Portable Microbiology Lab taken by the ladies of Katito after their return from the African Women and Water Conference.

Cake from the Solar CooKit cooked for Gemma and Mariah’s visit to Katito.

The standing water left by a driving rainstorm was a fitting backdrop to the proposal discussion about implementing rainwater harvesting.

Gemma with Jesca Akinyi Osian and Jesca Aoko Ochieng of Katito outside the distribution store for the Nyakach branch of Solar Cookers International

Helping the participants of the African Women and Water Conference to refine their project proposals for implementing a water project using the knowledge and skills gained at the conference.

Jael Esther Amati, of GROOTS Kenya, walking with members of Tei Wa Wo, a local self help community group after a meeting to share the experiences of the African Women and Water Conference and to encourage them to support the inclusion of WASH education in their outreach programs.

African Women and Water Conference participant Jennifer Mutinda and local primary school teacher demonstrating to her students how it takes a single drop of water to start a wave.

Along with paper and pencils, plastic jugs full of water are a normal part of the load carried by students to school every day as there is no source of water near the school. This school is the first target area for the installation of a rainwater harvesting system and storage tank, which will be implemented by Tei Wa Wo, under the supervision of Jennifer Mutinda and Priscah Mutia using their newly gained knowledge from the African Women and Water Conference.

A Kenyan woman coming to the dry riverbed to fetch water; donkeys are valued as water carriers and have to be taken care of to ensure their health.

A Kitui schoolgirl with her obligatory water ration which she must carry from home to school every day.

Syoni Mnzava singing with her local church choir; she is promoting the Solar CooKit to this group.

The beauty of Tanzania.

Syoni Mnzava teaching a local women's group about Solar CooKits.

Anna Anatoli’s shallow open well.

Plastic bottle drip irrigation; African Women and Water participant, Anna Anatoli is practicing good water conservation and agricultural techniques.

A little girl living in the slum area of Thika.

Lydiah Wambui, Beatrice Wamuhu, Mariah and Gemma visiting a group of women BodaBoda Initiatives works with in the Thika slums; the rooster is a customary gift for all visitors.

A water source used by the residents of the Thika slum for washing, cooking and drinking; this water was tested with the Portable Microbiology Lab at the African Women and Water Conference and proved to be severely contaminated with fecal pollution.

Betty Kamami washing her feet after a long afternoon of taking us on a tour of Meru.

Women of Meru coming out of the forests with their cache of firewood they spent the day searching for. The daily search for fuel is a time consuming part of an African woman’s daily life.

Gemma and Betty Kimami recording “Mama Maji,” written by Betty during the African Women and Water Conference.

Holpha Kirera showing Gemma a river in the Meru community.

The landscape of this rural area of Meru at the base of Mt. Kenya is dominated by tea plantations.