Global 6 kilometre for water

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

PRESS RELEASE: ONE RACE - ONE DAY- ONE CAUSE

Every child deserves clean water

18th March, 2016 Nairobi, Kenya – World Vision Kenya (WVK) believes that, all children deserve clean and safe water for their well-being, in order to acheive a fullness of life. As a child focused organisation, by 2020, WV Kenya will contribute to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children and 14 million through advocacy and policy influence. We want to create an environment that will enable children have access to clean and safe water in the community as we implement other programs in Education, Health and Livelihoods and Resilience in the communties, in partnership with the County and National Government.

Water crisis is the Number One global risk based on impact to society, as a measure for devastation for communities and especialy for the health status and well-being of vulnerable children in the community”, says World Vision Kenya National Director Mr. Dickens Thunde.

World Vision Global 6K race for Water, is an initiative by Team World Vision United States of America (WVUS) to mobilise  resources as well as advocate on water issues. It is an advocacy and fundraising initiative, that unites World Vision offices and partners around the World Water Day Celebration in the month of March.

“6 kilometers (6K) is the average distance people in Africa walk for water. Walk or run for 6K so they don’t have to travel a long distance in search of water and engage in other economic activties  in order to earn a daily income in order to support their families” says Mr. Thunde.

This is a virtual race, meaning there is no one venue but different locations in Kenya and also different parts of the world. World Vision Kenya will hold the event in 12 Area Development Programs (ADPs) and at the Nairobi office involving WV staff and the communities wgere we operate. Other World Vision support offices who will be participating in the walk and run include US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Canada. They will mobilise supporters and donors for the run or walk for water provision inititiatives.

The Global 6K for Water, will be your goal to unite your local community for global change interms of access to clean and safe water. The race will be held on 18th March, 2016, as a build up activity for the World Water Day week that begins on 22nd of March, 2016. WV Kenya requires your participation to encourage our partners and donors to fundraise for water projects in communities that lack access to safe and clean water.

“Write out a list of 20 to 50 names of people that you will invite to partcipate in the race. Be direct and ask specific people, face to face.” says Mr. Thunde.

The funds raised through World Vision’s 6K for Water will help fund water projects in different WV programs in Kenya. The initiative aims to raise over USD 50,000 (about Ksh 50million)to support water access to the community especially children.

According to the 2015 Update and Millenium Development Goal (MDGs) and Assessment on Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water, by UNICEF and World Health Organisation(WHO), it is estimated that 663 million people worldwide, still use unimproved drinking water sources, including unprotected wells and springs and surface water. Nearly half of all people using unimproved drinking water sources live in sub-Saharan Africa where Kenya is located, while one fifth live in Southern Asia.

Current statistics from water.org, indicate that Kenya with a population of 46.7 million, 17.3 million Kenyans lack access to safe water, while 32.7 million lack access to improved sanitation and 43 percent  of the total population lives below the national poverty line. However, as the MDG era comes to a close, the 2015 update by UNICEF and WHO report shows how far we have come. For example, in a major global achievement, the target for safe drinking water was met in 2010, well ahead of the MDG deadline of 2015. Over 90 per cent of the world’s population now has access to improved sources of drinking water.

Over the last 5 years, WV Kenya’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program has provided sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene  services to over 830,000 people in over 30 counties country-wide.

In 2014, approximately 205,800 people (men-46305, women-56595, boys 49907,girls-52994) benefited with access to sanitation and hygiene including safe and clean water. They included clients from Vision Fund International (VFI) a microfinance company and a subsidiary of World Vision Kenya. In 2015, approximately, 189,644 beneficiaries were reached with water interventions, while 181,952 beneficiaries were reached with sanitation and 198,918 with hygiene interventions.

In 2016, WV Kenya WASH sector, currently works in 21 counties. The targeted beneficiaries from the programs being implemneted will be approximately 177,675 in total (inclusive of men-25855,women-28088,boys-31599 and girls-42133)

Please register by sending Ksh 1000 to WV Kenya Paybill number # 525630, Account # ‘Global 6K’ and you will receive a kit that includes a branded World Vision t-shirt, a sports bag and a medal for participating in the walk and run event.

 

Every child deserves clean water. World Vision Global 6 Kilometre for Water.

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About World Vision Kenya : World Vision Kenya is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. For 40 years, World Vision initiatives in Kenya have helped strengthen the well-being of children in 57 Area Development Programmes spread across 35 of the 47 counties, nationwide

Our Focus Areas : Our community development approach focuses on health, HIV and AIDS, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, food security and economic development. Through our advocacy work, we enable the voices of the children and their communities to reach decision-makers who have the power to change unjust policies and practices. We work alongside the central government, county governments and other humanitarian agencies to provide life-saving assistance for communities affected by disaster.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a key priority development sector in World Vision Kenya. The sector aims at contributing to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children through direct programming and 14 million through policy influence by 2020. WASH is currently being implemented in 21 out of 47 counties in Kenya. The WASH programme encompasses safe water, improved sanitation, proper hygiene, communities and local government empowerment and partnerships.

  

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For more information please contact:

World Vision Kenya

Communications Manager,

May Ondeng

Email: May_Ondeng@wvi.org

Cell: +254 712 267655

 

 

World Vision Kenya

Senior Donor Liaison Officer

Justus Koech

Email:Justus_Koech@wvi.org

Cell: +254722668475

 

For Children. For Change. For Life