Project Details - Kenya, Asako

 Just a Drop will assist in funding an effective water system for the children of Asako Primary School and the surrounding village of Asako serving 2,000 people.
Asako is a remote village near the Tana River in Eastern Kenya, just outside the Kora National park. During times of drought the population increases by another 1,000 people due to the presence of seasonal, itinerant pastoralists. The area is dry, dusty and very poor. Houses are made of grass and mud. Families keep goats and cattle but few crops are grown. Water is brought up from the river by donkey. There are 205 children enrolled in the primary school.

Just a Drop will assist in funding an effective water system for the children of Asako Primary School and the surrounding village of Asako serving 2,000 people.

Background to Asako Primary school:

Asako Primary a school of 210 students aged 5 -19 in an extremely remote and poor district of Kenya on the River Tana just outside the Kora National Park. The village is dependent on food aid from the US. A wind pump is due to be installed soon which should supply clean water to the village from where it will be transported to the school by donkeys. The school was built by the colonialists in the 60s but after a few years of operation it remained unused for 3 decades.The local community started up an unofficial pre-primary class in 2000 after which the government accredited the school and did some basic renovations. Pupil numbers have grown rapidly in the last 3 years and the government now supplies three teachers in addition to the headteacher. A nursery teacher is paid for by the parents from their very meagre incomes.

Problems for the school are wide ranging: insecurity, drought, poverty, lack of desks and resources, poor working conditions for teachers, early marriage, high level of adult illiteracy, child labour, hiv/aids. Despite these problems the community is desperate to support the school. They will do whatever they can to improve the life chances of their children.

The Asako Primary School Trust was set up in September 2006. Priorities for funding are expected to be decided at the next meeting in October.