This past September, Emily, Doug, Weldon, and Ryan, engineers from our very own WILK-TEC (Technical Engineering Committee), made the trip to Kenya. This trip focused on Phase 2 of the Inchakita Primary School Rainwater Harvesting System. A new building was outfitted with WILK-TEC’s custom-designed first-flush system, which keeps dirt and sand out while still capturing seasonal rainfall.
Weldon, also known as “Baba Ryan,” wrote about this first trip he took to Kenya. Get a chance to see the WILK-TEC experience from the point of view of one of our engineers!
Weldon’s Travel Journal: WILK-TEC’s Arrival in Kenya
We left for Kenya from JFK in New York on September 19. It was nice to be greeted at the Nairobi airport by Joyce’s familiar face. We met Joseph, our driver, and talked with Joyce, who brought energy and enthusiasm for the work we had planned to do.
The next morning, there was prayer and a fellowship breakfast served by the most loving, wonderful, and gracious ladies. I enjoyed trying new foods cooked and shared from the area. Then came the notorious trip across the African savannah from Kimana Lodge to the school. What kept my interest during the trek was the occasional sighting of an elephant, giraffe, Maasai village, or herdsmen with goats or cows.
Getting the Work Done
It was a welcome sight to see the school buildings. We inventoried the supplies and got our jobs assigned. The Kenyan support group worked alongside us from the beginning. The edges of the roofs were inspected and fascia boards replaced as needed. The brackets were measured, pitched, and screwed into the vertical boards so the eight-foot-long splash gutter sections could be installed.
After gutter installation, a water gravity test was conducted to see if there were leaks and to determine if the downspout configuration worked. Three six-foot vertical pipes were installed to catch the sediments, which allowed cleaner water to enter the large eight-foot storage tank. Taps were placed near the bottom of the storage tank to allow access to the water.
Moments of Reflection
While we were deep into the nitty gritty of the work, the breeze blew red clay dust around. These times of noticing the surrounding landscape were among my most enjoyable moments. The mini tornado dust swirls danced in the far distance below Mount Kilimanjaro. By noon, you could see the white glacier top of the gigantic mountain, which stood as if it was watching everything below.
The pleasure of working together with others and the thought of helping the school capture essential rainwater made the day go by fast. Some of us designed the new gutter and tank systems, while others cleaned and repaired older systems. A third group prepared for the next day’s assignments. At the end of the week, it was very satisfying to see all that we had accomplished. We had excellent teamwork and a wonderful cultural experience while having the privilege of serving others.
