SALABWEK
The region of Salabwek is located in the Narok County of Kenya. The community is predominantly composed Kipsigis ethnic group
WE Charity partnered with Salabwek to address critical infrastructure needs and implement community-led, holistic and sustainable programming across the five-pillar model to support new resources and expanded access to education, clean water, health care, food security, and economic opportunities.
Together, we have built sustainable mechanisms to support community growth as the people of Salabwek continue to drive their own transformational impacts.
The region of Salabwek has seen tremendous change in the last 10 years. The community has been dedicated to providing opportunities for young people and resisting historical division amongst its members based on ethnicity. As a region with multiple ethnic communities, community members in Salabwek have come together through their commitment to community development.
Education is at the forefront of this community engagement. The community has supported its children to attend school, and we have seen a substantive increase in the student population. The improved teacher to student ratio is reflected in an increased rate of students transitioning from primary to secondary school and improved academic performance on national exams.
Financial self-reliance is also an element and indicator of success. Salabwek community leaders have been dedicated to improving their economic opportunities and seized the chance to gain increased skills and knowledge through WE Charity programs. By forming community-based opportunity groups, the community has applied their improved financial literacy skills to income-generating activities, increasing their household incomes and ability to take care of their families.
Salabwek community members have also experienced increased physical well-being. Through the provision of a community clean water system, piping, and community access points, all community members now have access to clean water. Students, teachers, and staff at the school have improved sanitation facilities, and WE Charity organized trainings have increased the ability of the community to manage water at a community and household level.
The following photos represent the 26 schools or school rooms constructed by WE Charity in the region of Salabwek. Each of the photos corresponds to a unique room including classrooms, a library, teachers’ accommodations, or a school kitchen.
The following highlights reflect a small sample of the impacts from our partnership with the region of Salabwek.
EDUCATION
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Overall increase in student population since our partnership began
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Improved teacher to student ratio
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100% of recent primary school graduates transition to secondary schools
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Improved academic performance, with a significant increase in mean Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam score since our partnership began
WATER
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100% of community members have access to clean water through implementation of a community water system, piping, and community access points
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Improved access to sanitation facilities for learners at school
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Conducted community and school water and sanitation trainings to promote safe water purification practices and clean water harvesting techniques
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Trained and empowered a water management committee to ensure the sustainability of clean water projects in the community
HEALTH
The 10 Habits of a Healthy Home program trains members of the community to implement basic health and sanitary indicators in their homesteads.
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90% of all households have implemented 80% of the 10 Habits of a Health Home program indicators in their homes, decreasing conditions for preventable diseases
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Community members have improved access to quality healthcare through Baraka Hospital, Kishon Health Centre, and mobile medical clinics
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Conducted community trainings to encourage sustained safe health practices, which have realized a reduction in vaccine preventable diseases and maternal complications during pregnancy
FOOD
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Supplemented school nutrition program
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Nearly 100 total agricultural trainings held over the course of partnership
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Community members empowered to provide their families with a more diverse diet, improve food security for their families, and are equipped with modern farming skills and knowledge that will sustain them for years to come
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
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Over 70 community members have participated in an Economic Empowerment group, with over 200 total economic empowerment trainings completed
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All participants have developed financial literacy skills, are self-reliant, and 85% of all participants have engaged in income generating activities aimed at improving their household incomes
WE CHARITY'S FIVE PILLAR DEVELOPMENT MODEL
WE Charity’s five-pillar development model empowers communities to break the cycle of poverty over, on average, a period of five to seven years of construction and local skill-capacity building, with a goal of long-term sustainability. Projects are focused on education, clean water, health care, food security and economic empowerment.
This holistic model starts with education, usually building schools or school rooms (including classrooms, libraries, kitchens, teachers’ accommodations, and school offices), that are then supported by other infrastructure needs key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Building new schools or school rooms (or renovating existing structures where possible) are not the only inputs into the five-pillar development model. To date, WE Charity has built or renovated over 850 schools or school rooms in rural Kenya. Each school room is furnished with the necessary supplies, such as desks and chairs, libraries with books, and other essential items for teachers’ offices and accommodations. Funds are also allocated to critical program needs that ensure quality services are delivered. For example, teachers must be trained and housed, students need healthy meals, and health care facilities (training and supplies) are necessary to look after the health needs of both faculty and students.
This model and needs extend to all the pillars, such as training for those maintaining water projects; education of community and family leaders on agriculture and healthy food; recruitment, training, and housing of medical staff; and the cost of economically empowering the women of the communities to ensure the development model is financially self-sustainable.
Primary school rooms and regional high school rooms may include the following: a classroom, a library, teachers’ accommodations, an administrative office, a science lab, a student dormitory or a school kitchen, which are all key elements of our education programs. All educational infrastructure is designed for the best learning of students.
WE Charity’s records and finances have been reviewed annually by independent auditors, and WE Charity has undergone a special review for its international activities from a respected forensic auditor, confirming that WE Charity operates with the highest financial integrity.
The following photos each document a unique school or school room used for educational purposes which was constructed or renovated by WE Charity. Most of the buildings are stand-alone, while some school rooms are adjoining, in multi-room structures (where indicated).
Renovations (where indicated) may often include structural and foundation repairs, walling and floor rebuilding or repairs, roof rebuilding or repairs and the provision of important educational infrastructure including desks, chairs, and blackboards to ensure a conducive environment for children to learn. Learn more about renovations to education facilities, here.
Part of a multi-room structure
Part of a multi-room structure
Part of a multi-room structure
Part of a multi-room structure
EXPLORE A MAP OF THE REGION