Seminars can at times be dull, stuffy, boring affairs, except for maybe the appetizers and meal. Not when you hold one in the Rift Valley of Kenya! Including the lunch meal that follows!
September 24, 2016 Clean Water Kenya held its second seminar at the Ewaso Clinic. Representatives from 85 villages showed up and in just 2 1/2 hours we trained these Maasai men and women on the use and maintenance of our Portable Water Filter Systems. In total 100 Systems were handed out over the course of the day and we’re proud to announce that we now have installed our Filter Systems in 185 villages, 1 small hospital, 2 rural medical clinics, 1 school and the homes of four volunteers. We also have distributed 30 25-gallon Rain Barrels, our DROUGHT INSURANCE, to 15 villages that are now serving 60 families.
We took groups of ten or less at one time inside the clinic walls and spent roughly ten minutes each instructing the Maasai on how to use the Filters and how to keep them clean. We stressed the importance of keeping the Filters clean through back-flushing as soon as the water became cloudy and that the MOST IMPORTANT item in the Filter System is the SYRINGE. That’s the key to keeping the Filters working and viable for many years. 
After explaining each step in the use and maintenance of the Filter System I would ask through the interpreter if there were any questions, comments or concerns. As you can imagine, there were many. The Maasai are very inquisitive and interested in anything that will improve their circumstances. The give-and-take lessons were enlightening for both sides and a lot of fun. There was a lot of laughter and back-and-forth banter and hugs shared.
Judy even received a beautiful necklace and strong embrace from an elderly village Momma as a thank you for what we were doing. She knew in advance when we would be in Ewaso and waited 3 days in the open air to attend the seminar. 
Afterwards, the butchered Maasai cow that was roasted over an open fire and the vegetables and rice we had for a late lunch was delicious! The cattle is a bit tougher than the goat, but tasty all the same.
We left about 4pm and headed back to Nairobi making one stop along the way to see our good friend Catherine and her lovely family. It was dark by the time we reached her place but I know the roads now so all in all it was a good trip. Catherine owns one of the volunteer host homes frequented by workers that come from around the world to work at the Havilla Childrens Center in Kibera, one of our close Partners. She has one of our Filter Systems and raves about how much healthier her family is now because of it and also how great the “sweet water” tastes.
Catherine also makes BEAUTIFUL beaded jewelry as well as earrings, bracelets and necklaces made from bone. She is very talented.
Thank you for your continued support in our vital work with the Maasai in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya.
MAY YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
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