In Feb 2012, we will be embarking on a challenge of a lifetime. We will be climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, at 19,341ft it is the tallest mountain in Africa and the fourth highest in the world.

 

From now, Feb 2011, we have begun our campaign to raise £50,000 which will go towards water projects in Mandera, Kenya.

 

Mandera, a town in the North East province of Kenya is located in an area prone to drought, famine and conflict. In recent years it has suffered a great water shortage, which has been compounded by cyclic droughts: alongside severe food insecurity making this one of the worst affected regions in East Africa.

 

So far, Islamic Relief has implemented a project to minimise water scarcity through the installation of water facilities in five sites, bringing water from underground reservoirs benefitting 75,000 people and 250,000 livestock.

 

As part of the project local water user associations are being trained in the management and organisation of these new facilities which ensures that they can be safeguarded in the long term.

 

As a result of this continuing project, children who would usually spend the day searching for water can now spend the day searching for knowledge at school. Women who would ordinarily walk miles each day for water can now spend more time with their families. More importantly, tribal and clan in-fighting over water have now ceased.

 

To ensure this project continues to benefit peoples’ lives, we ask you to dig deep and donate as much as possible.

 

You’ll be bringing smiles where once there were none.