The Smiths Group Foundation is supporting four sand dam projects across Kitui County in Kenya. This work will change the lives of 3,467 people directly, supplying these communities with sustainable and safe water.

Each sand dam is a naturally sourced dam made of sand and rocks constructed over a river bed which will be linked to a community pump. This smart engineering water solution  stores and filters up to 10 million litres of water collected during Kenya's rainy season, providing the entire community with safe water all year round. 

In addition to constructing four sand dams, The Smiths Group Foundation is supporting community development programs in each of these areas. As the sand dams raise the local water table, it becomes crucial for the community to receive training in sustainable agriculture, including improved farming techniques, soil and water conservation through terracing, and seed banking. This education will equip the community with the resources needed to expand their agricultural businesses and develop their local economy. Furthermore, the community will receive training in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), menstrual health, and income-generating practices such as soap making and a microfinance scheme that provides small business loans.

Thanks to the generous support from The Smiths Group Foundation, these four communities will experience improved health by no longer needing to collect and drink water from distant, contaminated wells. Women will have more time for their families and work, and children will be able to spend more time on their education, as they won't be collecting water or suffering from waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

Local economies will grow through the introduction of income-generating practices, such as small business loans and training in soap production and reusable sanitary products.

WASH and menstrual health training will promote life-saving practices such as regular hand washing and hygienic food preparation. It will also provide women and girls with the knowledge and materials to manage menstruation hygienically and with dignity, encouraging greater female attendance in school.