Women's Water Cooperative

In the arid landscapes of Kajiado County, Kenya, a remarkable transformation is underway. A group of Maasai women has taken water security into their own hands, establishing a water harvesting cooperative that now provides clean water to over 5,000 residents.

What began as a community initiative to address water scarcity has evolved into a model of self-reliance and women's empowerment, reducing water collection time by 70% and creating new economic opportunities for the entire community.

The Challenge

For generations, women and girls in Kajiado County spent up to 6 hours daily walking to distant water sources. The burden of water collection limited educational opportunities for girls and economic activities for women, while waterborne diseases were common due to contaminated water sources.

The Solution

In 2020, with support from the local community foundation, 35 women came together to form the Olkejuado Women's Water Cooperative. Their approach combined traditional knowledge with modern techniques:

Impact & Results

The cooperative has not only solved the water crisis but has also created economic opportunities. Women now have time to engage in small businesses, and school attendance among girls has increased by 40% since the project began.

Future Expansion

Building on their success, the cooperative plans to expand to neighboring communities and establish a training center to share their model with other regions facing similar water challenges. They are also exploring solar-powered water pumping systems to make their operations more sustainable.