Yatta Project, Kenya

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, farmers were struggling to meet their families' food and income needs. Many children weren't attending school and most families had to walk far to collect water. Child malnutrition and waterborne diseases were common.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Yatta community have improved access to clean water, healthcare and nutritious food and their families have more opportunities to earn income.

Together we've achieved so much

Children receiving correct treatment for diarrhoea reached 71 percent by 2017

This is up from 18 percent in 2012.

Community Health Volunteers have been trained to monitor children's health and educate families about health and hygiene practices including how to manage common illnesses like diarrhoea.
The project collaborated with local health authorities to conduct health checks on pre-school children. As part of this, 7,124 children received Vitamin A supplements to reduce anaemia and de-worming medication.

Children, especially girls, are continuing with their education for longer

Improvements to water and toilet facilities in schools have prevented many girls from dropping out on reaching adolescence.

Children from the most vulnerable families received support to cover school expenses so they could continue their education. And more than 150 children with disabilities received wheelchairs which has made it possible for them to attend school.
Child parliaments have been formed in schools to enable children to have a voice in the community about issues affecting their lives. Members meet regularly to discuss child rights issues. They also write proposals for change and present these to the local government.

80 percent of people had access to hygienic toilets in 2017

This is up from 68 percent in 2006.

The project partnered with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to rehabilitate two boreholes to increase access to clean water for 2,400 families. Water from the boreholes is piped to schools and kiosks in the community and families pay a small monthly fee to collect water from taps at the kiosks.
Community members have formed water management committees to run the water kiosks and ensure that water infrastructure remains operational.
Farmer groups have received materials to build irrigation dams and set up drip irrigation systems so they can grow a greater variety of nutritious crops.

"There are fewer incidences of waterborne diseases among our children as we now have clean water from the borehole. I thank World Vision and sponsors for what they have done to our community. The water projects have transformed many lives."

- Francisca, aged 50, community member

Training enables farmers to thrive

Mother of four Magdalene is one of many farmers in the Yatta community who have improved their incomes with the support of generous child sponsors like you.

Magdalene participated in agricultural training that World Vision ran in collaboration with the local government. As well as crop production skills, she also learned about business management. After training, Magdalene and her husband decided to start a vegetable growing business. But first they needed to secure a reliable water source for irrigation.

First, they dug a small dam on their land by hand to collect rainwater. And then World Vision supplied them with a plastic dam liner to prevent water seeping back into the ground. When the dam began to fill, Magdalene planted kale, spinach and tomatoes which she is now selling to local families for a profit.

Before, this land was just trees and grass ... but now I have planted vegetables that are a source of livelihood. It has improved our living standards,” Magdalene says.

"Other organisations have come, but they bring things that only last you a few days. But for World Vision, they have given me something sustainable."

- Magdalene, farmer and mother of four