Press release : Global 6 kilometre for water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :

ONE RACE - ONE DAY- ONE CAUSE: Every child deserves clean water

18th March, 2016 Nairobi, Kenya-World Vision Kenya (WVK) believes that, all children deserve clean and safe water for their well-being, in order to achieve life’s fullness. As a child-focused organisation and by 2020, WV Kenya will contribute to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children and 14 million children through advocacy and policy influence. World Vision wishes to create an environment that will enable children have access to clean and safe water in the community as the organisation implements other programs in Education, Health and Livelihoods and Resilience in the communties, in partnership with the County and National Government.

“Water crisis, is the number one global risk, based on impact to society in measuring devastation for communities and especially for the health status and well-being of vulnerable children in the community”, says World Vision Kenya, National Director Mr Dickens Thunde.

World Vision Global 6K race for Water, is an initiative by Team World Vision United States of America (WVUS) to mobilise  resources as well as advocate on water issues. This advocacy and fundraising initiative unites World Vision offices and partners around the World Water Day Celebration in the month of March.

“6 kilometers (6K) is the average distance Africans walk for water. I urge you to walk or run for 6K so they don’t have to travel a long distance in search of water. They will then be able to engage in other economic activities to earn a daily income to support their families”, says Mr. Thunde.

This is a virtual race, meaning there is no one venue to participate in, rather, different locations in Kenya and also different parts of the world. World Vision Kenya will hold the event in 12 Area Development Programs (ADPs) and at the Nairobi office involving WV staff, including members of the community. Other World Vision support offices participating in the walk and run include US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Canada. They have been mobilising supporters and donorsfor 6K race to enhance water provision initiatives.

World Vision Kenya National Director Dickens Thunde flags off the Global 6 kilometre run or walk for water at the National Office in Karen, Nairobi Kenya. World Vision Kenya staff and their collegues from the East African Region and the Global office including students from Kenya Water Institute participated in the inaugural event to fundraise for communities that lack access to safe and clean water.

The run was held on 18th March, 2016, as a build-up activity for the World Water Day Week, beginning on 22nd of March, 2016. World Vision Kenya, is encouraging each one’s participation, even after the official walk or run event is held. This will ensure we encourage partners and donors to fundraise for this and future water projects in communities that lack access to safe and clean water.

“Write out a list of 20 to 50 names of people that you will invite to partcipate in the race. Be direct and ask specific people, face to face.” said Mr. Thunde.

The funds raised through World Vision’s 6K for Water will help to fund fund water projects in the Bandaptai (Bomet County), Mwingi (Kitui County) and Katito (Homabay County) communities in Kenya.

The inaugural event, aims to raise over USD 50,000 (about Ksh 50million) to support water access to the community, especially to children.

According to the 2015 Update and Millenium Development Goal (MDGs) and Assessment on Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water, by UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO), it is estimated that 663 million people worldwide, still use unimproved drinking water sources, including unprotected wells, springs and surface water. Nearly half of all people using unimproved drinking water sources live in sub-Saharan Africa, where Kenya is located, while one fifth live in Southern Asia.

Current statistics from water.org, indicate that Kenya with a population of 46.7 million, 17.3 million Kenyans lack access to safe water, while 32.7 million others, lack access to improved sanitation and 43 percent of the total population lives below the national poverty line. However, as the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) era comes to a close, the 2015 update by UNICEF and WHO report, shows how far we have come. For instance, in a major global achievement, the target for safe drinking water was met in 2010, which was well ahead of the MDG deadline of 2015. Over 90 per cent of the world’s population now has access to improved sources of drinking water.

Over the last 5 years, World Vision Kenya’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program provided sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene services to over 830,000 people, beyond 30 counties, country-wide.In 2014, approximately 205,800 people (men-46305, women-56595, boys-49907, girls-52994) benefited with access to sanitation and hygiene, including safe and clean water. They included clients from Vision Fund International (VFI) a microfinance company and a subsidiary of World Vision, Kenya. In 2015, approximately, 189,644 beneficiaries were reached with water interventions, while 181,952 beneficiaries were reached with sanitation and 198,918, with hygiene interventions.

Currently in 2016, World Vision Kenya WASH sector, works in 21 counties. The targeted beneficiaries from the programs being implemented will be approximately 177,675 in total (inclusive of men-25855, women-28088, boys-31599 and girls-42133) 

Every child deserves clean water. World Vision Global 6 Kilometre for Water.

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World Vision Kenya

For Children. For Change. For Life