Join us in Helping Kenyans Bloom Through Love & Water!
Partner with us to connect your community with Kenyans in need.
In Kenya, Maasai people say Enkare Enkishui
Our Mission
Water is Life Kenya is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spark personal, economic, and community development in marginalized communities in Kenya, according to existing customs and culture. We do this by providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; empowering women; and equipping people to develop income through improved resource management.
Years in Operation
1
Clean Water Projects
1
People with Clean Water
1
Widows Supported
1
WILK Blog: Perspectives
Hope for Widows Spotlight: One Woman’s Journey as a Businesswoman
At Water is Life Kenya (WILK), we do our best to support Kenyan women who traditionally have the hardest work to do: traveling long distances to find water, feeding and caring for their families, and paying school fees. We began our Hope for Widows program because widowed Kenyan women face…
Livestock as a Business: Fall 2023 Update
Because of the 3-year-long drought in Kenya, we paused our Livestock and a Business (LAB) program last year. However, since parts of Kajiado County received rain earlier this year and more rains are expected, we've restarted training three new groups of livestock farmers this summer and fall. This will highlight…
Partnership Spotlight: WILK-TEC
We're thrilled to announce a new phase of our partnership with Engineers Without Borders Delaware Professional Chapter (EWB). After 7 years together, the volunteer engineers decided they wanted to work exclusively in Kenya with Water is Life Kenya. EWB will now be known as WILK-TEC, “TEC” standing for “Technical Engineering…
WILK's Transformative Programs
WASH Projects
Mainly through deep borehole wells, we establish community water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, each benefitting hundreds of families and their livestock.
Hope for Widows Program
Maasai widows are incredibly marginalized. We empower them to lift themselves out of poverty by providing business training and giving grants of goats and cash.
Livestock as a Business Program
To keep the water on, communities need stable income. We train and finance Maasai livestock keeping groups so they can run better businesses.
Beaded Handicrafts Program
One way we help Kenyan women generate income is through our Beaded Handicrafts program. We buy directly from artisans and sell our products to U.S. supporters.
Our Method
Across each of our programs, our educational approach meets a few key criteria:
- Engage all the Senses. We encourage dynamic participation by bringing lessons to life and teaching important lessons in approachable ways.
- Respect the People. We respect the people, culture, and traditions of the Maasai while introducing new concepts for water, livestock, and business management.
- Raise up Women. In a male-dominated society, we empower women with the skills, confidence, and leadership needed to improve their lives.
Water is Just the Beginning
Watch the video below to see the Oleopolos Community Borehole, established in 2012. For over a decade, this life-changing project has provided clean, reliable water to the surrounding community, improving livelihoods and supporting sustainable development.