Water Wells and Community Impact in Kenya - A Personal Journey

The Significance of a Personal Mission

From 1998 to 2016, a journey of a decade dedicated to a noble cause in Kenya transformed into one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It all began when, on a mission trip to Nairobi with a pastor friend, I witnessed the daily struggle of women carrying heavy buckets on their shoulders and heads in the early mornings and late afternoons. After some inquiries, I learned that these women were fetching water for their families, as there was no clean drinking water available in the village. This situation infuriated me, especially given my engineering background. This experience sparked a conviction within me to help in any way possible.

From Idea to Reality

Driven by this conviction, I spent the next year working on establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a primary focus on providing clean water in Kenya. I aimed to create a sustainable system that would not only provide immediate relief but also ensure long-term access to clean water for the people in need. However, funding such an ambitious project required a significant financial commitment. With my personal investments amounting to $100,000, I started the foundation on solid ground. As the organization began to gain traction, consistent donations started pouring in, helping us to finally kick off our water well projects in February 1999.

Community Impact and Volunteer Efforts

Initially, my team consisted of just a few volunteers and me. However, we soon grew to a team of 18—nine devout Christians and nine non-believers who were united in our mission. There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. Working with a devoted and diverse team, we were able to install fresh water wells in villages across southern Kenya south of Nairobi. The U.S. State Department’s assistance in covering transportation costs was invaluable, greatly enhancing our efforts. I am eternally grateful to political leaders like Madeleine Korbel Albright, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Rodham Clinton for their support.

Throughout our journey, every dollar raised by our organization went toward installing fresh water wells in Kenya. As of my retirement in 2016, we had successfully installed 756 fresh water wells, serving a total of 22,680 Kenyans each month. It was humbling to realize that we provided 272,000 servings of clean, fresh water every single day of the year. This is a testament to the significant impact that can be achieved through dedicated effort and collaboration.

Enduring Legacy and Impact

To this day, I still have many friends in Kenya. The most profound moment of my journey was standing next to a water well on a hillside in Kenya, hearing it kick on for the first time, and witnessing children play in the water. This experience not only brought immense joy but also reaffirmed my belief in the power of community and the transformative impact of clean water on people's lives. My personal mission transcended mere charity; it was a commitment to making a lasting difference in communities that desperately needed it.

Through this journey, I discovered that there is no limit to what one can accomplish when driven by a pure and unwavering purpose. The water wells I helped install continue to serve as a beacon of hope and a symbol of the potential for change in the lives of those who were previously impoverished.

Conclusion

The story of my journey to provide clean water in Kenya is not just about the numbers and the challenges faced. It is about the personal growth, the spiritual fulfillment, and the legacy created by our collective efforts. I remain deeply committed to this cause, with a hope that more people will join hands to make a difference in the world, one water well at a time.