The four year drought, caused by climate change and historic marginalisation by governments has ravished the lives of the Turkana tribe, who have been nomadic pastoralists for hundreds of years. Last year's winner of the Guardian Development Journalist project, Nash Colundalur witnessed first hand the problems faced, and the efforts of AMREF in providing fresh water for vulnerable communities.
''When I was there last September, facilitated by AMREF and reporting for the Guardian newspaper, I met Ekono, the spiritual leader for the district. He said “My people are dying, the water is there, it just needs to be harnessed”. He said he would mobilize his community to donate half the money required for a borehole and he looked at me closely before saying “Can you bring the other half?", Nash said.
Climate change has been greatly exacerbated by man’s insensitive hunger for power. People living in extreme geographical terrains feel the wrath of this change the most, though they probably contribute the least to it.
To raise funds for a borehole for Ekono and his community, Nash is going to walk the same distance that the tribe walks, about 25 Km, albeit from London to Oxshott in Surrey on International Water Day, the 22nd of March. AMREF is extremely grateful to Nash for raising awareness of these issues affecting vulnerable communities, and fully supports his efforts.
You can donate to his initiative, and to AMREF, by visiting his Just Giving page