Friends of the Old (FOTO) works in the Lower Nyakach region of western Kenya, an area with a population of 69,000, where 60% of the residents live in severe poverty. Their main source of household energy is firewood, which is becoming more scarce every year. Starting in 2012, Solar Cookers International is funding Safe Water Packages to be distributed to FOTO beneficiaries. Their primary focus is helping economically disempowered senior citizens who take care of their orphaned grandchildren.
A Safe Water Package includes a CooKit, a supply of heat-resistant plastic bags, a cooking pot, a clay pot for safe water storage, a fuel-efficient woodstove and a retained-heat cooking basket. FOTO wants to provide elderly community members with a way to have safe drinking water, while also reducing the burden of gathering firewood and the dangerous exposure of women and children to cooking smoke. FOTO monitors the progress of its projects through home visits and monthly and quarterly management meetings. Nearly 84% of beneficiaries continue to use the integrated cooking devices two months after distribution.
Ms. Dinah Chienjo is FOTO's Director.
Recent news and developments
- November 2013: Study of water treatment in Kenya demonstrates the effectiveness of the WAPI - Bob Metcalf, research microbiologist, and FOTO worked together on a study to compare results of various water treatment chemicals to the WAPI water pasteurization indicator used with a CooKit solar cooker. One finding of note is that the WAPI, when used with the CooKit, was 100% effective in producing negative results for E.coli, while the WaterGuard (3 drops/liter) method was only effective in most cases. Read the study at: The Goal is Zero: A Strategy to Eliminate Water-bourne Disease in Lower Nyakach, Kenya
Contact
- See Dinah Chienjo.Dinah Chienjo