With support from DANIDA, NRT’s rainwater harvesting project in Pate Community Conservancy is making a difference in ways that go far beyond quenching thirst. Children now focus on their school studies and communities have ample water to meet their basic domestic and household needs.

Across northern Kenya, many young girls do not complete their education due to an array of sociocultural challenges, including early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM) and teenage pregnancies. Sadly, most of these girls drop out of school and give up on their dreams. NRT, through the support of Conservation International (CI) is implementing the Female Teacher Mentorship Programme, placing female teacher interns in 23 schools across member conservancies. Through the steady efforts of these teachers, the programme is now recording increased attendance in schools, improved performance and most importantly, rekindled hope among girls who once believed education wasn't meant for them.

For many families, finding water meant travelling distances of up to 35 kilometres during prolonged dry seasons. Women and girls bore the greatest burden, often spending between four and six hours every day collecting water. Children frequently missed school to assist their families, while households spent between KES 2,500 and KES 5,000 every month transporting water from distant sources.