Meet Bertha Juma, Technical Officer in Kenya

Bertha specialises in Water and Environmental Engineering and holds a Master of Arts degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi. She has experience managing WASH construction projects across Kenya and joined Dig Deep in January 2016 as the WASH Technical Officer to lead in the construction management and procurement of resources. 

We asked Bertha to tell us about her work and how it impacts the lives of women and girls

I joined DD as the Technical Officer to make a contribution towards providing sustainable solutions to community through promoting appropriate technologies in Water and Sanitation. 

I work to enhance the lives of men, Women and Children by ensuring they have access to clean water and safe environment in our community. This is through overseeing WASH infrastructure from designing the structure, supervising the construction and training on Operation and Maintenance for sustainability. In addressing gender issues within the program we ensure equal representation of women at the community level; thus, ensuring that women are selected to hold key positions in the water committee for them to have a voice in the water projects. 

I also ensure, facilities that are girl’s friendly by ensuring girls latrine have a privacy wall with shower that gives them privacy and dignity during their menstruation. In addition, it thrilling to oversee the construction of low cost incinerators that address the issue of safe disposal for sanitary towels and gives the latrines a longer lifespan. It’s exciting to be part of the evolution in the women’s lives to make their lives better. 

My highlights in my work with Dig Deep is to see how the organisation recognizes the role of women in WASH sector and giving them equal opportunities in accessing contracts for the construction of School WASH facilities, women accessing safe water and girls dignity enhanced in schools.

Meet Rose Kendagor, our Project Officer in Kenya

Rose Kendagor running one of our hygiene training sessions

Rose has a background in Public Health and holds a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from James Grant School of Public Health in Bangladesh. She has over ten years experience in programme and research related work, with a particular focus on WASH projects, and has worked with various international NGO's in Kenya. Rose joined Dig Deep in January 2016 as Project Officer, and will focus on the implementation of our hygiene promotion activities and training. 

We asked Rose to tell us about her work and why she decided to join Dig Deep. 

Diarrhoea continues to be one of the major killer diseases of children under-five in rural and marginalized areas of Kenya. Lack of awareness and knowledge, poor attitudes and behaviours towards key hygiene practices are some of the risks to the continued prevalence of the disease. 

Creating awareness on the links between disease and poor WASH practices has been the core of my work as a result making a contribution to the achievements of SDG 6 that aims to ensure availability and sustainable management and water and sanitation for all. 

Investing in WASH champions through capacity building in Hygiene Promotion Programs has been my KEY area of interest and focus. This fits within one of DD objectives that ‘taps and toilets don’t improve health and education only using them effectively does.” I joined DD as a project Officer and my role involves designing of training guides and development of IEC materials targeting specific contexts and audiences. These materials improve the knowledge, promote adoption of good hygiene behaviours and empower the target groups as change agents within their communities.  

With improved hygiene practices there is reduction in diarrhoea disease cases which result to time saving for women who are often responsible for caring of sick children and family members, improved education outcomes for children and saving of household incomes. Time saved by women is allocated for other productive activities within the households. 

What I’m proud of is increased awareness and knowledge on Hygiene and Sanitation which contributes to behaviour change and adoption of good hygiene practices .

Meet Caroline, Dig Deep's Country Manager in Kenya

Caroline has a background in development communication and community development from St Paul's University in Nairobi. She has extensive experience managing water and sanitation programmes across Kenya, working with various international NGO's before joining Dig Deep as the Country WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) Manager in 2014. She works with local partners and stakeholders to coordinate all of our water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. 

We asked Carol to tell us about her work, her motivations and what aspect of her work she is most proud of

Women, children and girls are often the primary users, collectors and mangers of water in their household and they are the ones responsible for maintenance of proper hygiene within the households. The same group are the ones that are affected disproportionately by lack of safe water, adequate sanitation and improved Hygiene. Working in programs that focuses on addressing these needs particularly within rural marginalized areas has been an inspiration. 

Dig Deep's vision to break the cycle of poverty through water and sanitation fitted with my personal inspiration, and I joined Dig Deep team as a Country Manager in 2014. In my role, I oversee the development and implementation of WASH programmes by ensuring they meet their objectives within the given timeframes.

In my position I contribute towards the influence of policies and decision making related to School WASH at county and national levels, for example our work including menstrual hygiene management training as part of our WASH programs, a component that has been widely neglected. In addition I build and strengthen new and existing partner relationships. 

Over the years, working with Dig Deep I have seen the change in lives of many girls through comprehensive MHM in schools program among adolescence girls which has resulted in retention of girls in schools as well as increased enrolment.

The Operation and Maintenance offered to water management groups has enabled women take up leadership roles as well as decision makers, as they are ones affected directly to issues related to water. E.g committees that are being led by women have proved to be very successful. 

International Women's Day 2016

Today is International Women's Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. 

Women community members who benefit from Dig Deep's
work in rural Kenya

To celebrate this, we are going to post a series of blog posts highlighting why women are so central to how we do our work, and then some profiles of the phenomenal women we have working for Dig Deep in Kenya. 

So, first things first. 

Why are women and girls so important to our work?

Women and girls in Kenya are the primary users, collectors and managers of water in their household, and maintaining a hygienic home environment. 

Women and girls tend to take on the responsibility for collecting water for their family. Where the nearest water source is some distance away, the time that it takes to collect the water for their family can take up a large proportion of their day. This is particularly an issue in rural Kenya where we focus our work. These girls and women then miss out on opportunities for education and leisure. 

Women also pay the highest price when there is a lack of safe water, beyond the health repercussions of inadequate sanitation. 

For girls, the lack of safe, separate and private toilets and hand washing facilities in schools can be a huge barrier to school attendance, a situation made worse when the girls are menstruating. Women and girls also tend to be the ones responsible for caring for sick children in the household, again depriving them of the opportunity for education. 

Dig Deep's women centered work

Agnes Pareyio, the first Maasai councillor
and Dig Deep advisor

As women are disproportionately impacted by poor water and sanitation access, it is vital that they are central in our approach to change that. Right from the very beginning, women have been driving our work. We began our first project with the advice and guidance of Agnes Pareyio, the first ever female Maasai councillor. Since then we have ensured that women are pivotal in our work. 

Addressing the needs of women in our programmes

We build latrines and handwashing stations in schools and communities, with separate areas for girls and boys. This has freed up the time of girls who were previously having to spend time travelling to the nearest water point. The separate areas mean that it is easier for girls to attend school while they are menstruating. 

We also run Menstrual Hygiene Management programmes in schools, helping teenage girls ensure adequate hygiene management when they are on their periods. This programme has resulted in more girls enrolling in school, and improved their attendance and retention once they have enrolled. 

Women as agents for change

In addition to addressing the needs of women, women and girls are also central to our community engagement and long term water management. We work closely with communities to ensure that the infrastructure we are putting in is appropriate for the specific community we are working with, and also that they have the structures and skills in place to ensure that maintenance and management of the water and sanitation facilities in the long term. We set up water management groups, which have enabled women to take up leadership roles in their communities, acting as key decision makers. Indeed, the committees that are led by women have proved to be very successful.

We also have a series of remarkable women who work in our Kenya office, leading the development of our programmes.  We will be profiling these women in our next blog posts. 

A Dig Deep Adventure to the Summit of Killimanjaro - by Jason Blanchard

Climbing a mountain of the scale of Kilimanjaro is no easy feat, it can be daunting and maybe even horrifying at first thought however this is nothing compared to the ordeal that many people face across Africa on a day to day basis just for survival. 

Dig Deep have for many years now focused on providing these people with the basic human right of clean water and sanitation and it is this helping hand that will always be there for its fundraisers no matter what challenge they face. It was my pleasure this year to have the opportunity to raise money for such a great charity and great cause.

My time on the climb could not have been more varied from the nerves and anxiety at the bottom to the optimism and yet realisation of magnitude in the middle to the ecstasy and elation at the summit. This role coaster of emotions included laughs, tears but more importantly unforgettable memories that I will take with me for the rest of my life. 

I would just like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude to all the Dig Deep staff that were the first smiling face I saw right back in September when fundraising began to the final wave when I left on the climb to the proud welcoming upon my return and sad goodbye for the airport. I really do now feel like one of the Dig Deep family and I thank you all for that.

In addition I would like to mention all of the staff that helped organise our safaris and other amazing trips as well as all the friendly staff at numerous hotels we stayed at. Last but by no means least, I need to say a very massive thank you to the incredibly hard working porters that carry your supplies, your spirits and often you up the mountain all with a kind and patient pole pole manner about them. 

I can't thank everyone enough and look forward to continue helping Dig Deep any way I can even just to repay them a tiny bit of the experience they afforded me this summer.

My First Time In Africa - By Harry Owens

Above the Clouds

I'd never been to Africa before, and when I got off the plane I was exposed to a whole new world. The airport was so small compared to the one I'd just left, but the weather was a lot nicer. My good fortune took a slight turn when the airline informed me that my luggage was in Amsterdam, fortunately it arrived on a flight the next day and I wasn’t going to let anything dampen my good mood. I was in Tanzania, I was about to climb Kilimanjaro, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I didn’t really know what to expect from Moshi or from the hotel, and when my driver pulled down a dirt track in what seemed like the middle of nowhere I must admit I was a little worried. This was completely unjustified however as we pulled into the Midlands Lodge, I couldn’t of felt more at home. I was shown to a beautiful room with a comfy bed and an en suite; standard for all the rooms in Midlands. I was greeted by a group of Dig Deep staff, student fundraisers and very friendly locals. This was followed by some amazing food and most importantly an ice cold Kilimanjaro beer.

After a day of rest the group I would be climbing with arrived in Moshi. Not knowing anyone I was climbing with, I was a little apprehensive, but after a few more Kilimanjaro beers and a few games of cards, I was confident we were going to have a great time on the mountain.

It was foggy on the morning before we went to the gate, we were unable to see the peak, but we knew it was there and it was where we needed to be. The gate was its own adventure; meeting all of the guides and having a monkey steal our food made for an exciting morning. Just like that we were off, walking our first few steps I looked back to see Sarah waving us off. Knowing her and Jo had reached the top just a week prior was a key factor in my determination at some points. The first thing we noted was how frustratingly slowly the guides were walking, we were miles ahead of them, what on earth were they doing? By day 2 they were still going at the same pace, but we were struggling to keep up. If you’re about to climb and you’re reading this: pace yourself.

By the time we reached the first camp at 3000 metres the altitude was hitting me hard. My head was pounding and I couldn’t catch my breath, unfortunately there was nothing I could do but deal with it, which was made easier by the astounding cooking. Huddled in the mess tent the porters had already set up for us, everyone was eating as much soup and bread as possible. We were starving. Much to our surprise, the soup was cleared away and the waiters brought in the main course. We hadn’t realised the soup was a starter. After feasting on some chicken and potatoes, I certainly wasn’t starving anymore.

The sun rose in the morning, as did we at 6:30 am with only minor grumbling. Much to my relief, my headache was gone and I was feeling fresh as a daisy; the sleeping matts in the tents really are quite comfy. We continued on for 3 days of long hikes and great food, amazed by both the views and how fast the porters could walk despite carrying much more than us. Some days we were treated to a morning sing along with all 60 of our porters and guides which was so enticing that often people from other groups would wonder over and join in. As for our favourite part of the trip we all greed it fell on day 4, but we couldn’t decide whether it was the thrill of climbing Baranco wall in the morning or the taste sensation of the chips they gave us for lunch. For me it was definitely the chips.

I can barely remember summit night, I think it’s the same for a lot of people. I remember the red glow of the moon in the early hours of the morning. I remember seeing the stars more clearly than I ever have before. I remember the most beautiful sunrise. The hours of hard work and struggle seem to be left behind in the sense of accomplishment. When we could see Uhuru peak from Stella point I could hardly believe it. Only one more hour.

My group at Uhuru peak.

I cried at the peak, I think most people did from my group. There was a lot of singing the songs we had learnt from the guides over the week and photo taking for new profile pictures. We could of stayed up there for a long time, the views stretched on for miles and of course we had finally made it, although it definitely hadn’t quite sunk in for most people yet. It didn’t really hit me until after lunch walking down to millennium camp when I looked back and could see the peak receding in the background. At that point I was so full of energy, slightly annoyed because I would much rather have been energised on the way up!

By the time we reached Mweka, everyone was quite disappointed really, not able to come to terms with the fact that we were no longer on the mountain and that our adventure was over. Tipping the porters however was one of the highlights of my week, after seeing how hard they worked I couldn’t imagine climbing with a organisation that didn’t give them a fair wage.

After a few rest days in Moshi, I was looking forward to watching a few good movies on the plane. Unfortunately I was so knackered that I slept the whole way home and didn’t get to watch anything. My mother picked me up at the airport congratulating me and saying how proud she was.

“No big deal mum” I grinned. “All in a weeks’ work”.

My Group Leader Experience - by Sam Morley

Sam Morley, Sheffield 2015 Group Leader

Our 2015 Sheffield Group Leader Sam has written a blog for us about his experiences of being a Group Leader for us. If you feel inspired and would like to apply to become a Group Leader for us at your University please have a look at the information pack here.

Whilst on my year out in Japan, I saw the team leader role with Dig Deep on a ‘Freshers’ Facebook page for Sheffield University and immediately applied. The chance to meet a group of students at my new University, fundraise together and then have the experience of a lifetime climbing Kilimanjaro the following summer felt too good to miss out on. I had a bit of fundraising experience already and thought a leadership role would be a good challenge for me whilst studying Architecture. Dig Deep called me up shortly after and had a quick interview on the phone. It was only during the interview I actually realised that team leaders get to travel for free! I was prepared for rejection and thought I’d just sign up to join the team anyway… but then Jo woke me up one morning with a phone call welcoming me aboard.

I had a little success dance and then plastered the news over social media. Immediately, the Internet responded and I had several signups, before even starting University! Once I was in Sheffield, I pushed myself to go to as many socials, sports clubs and events as possible to meet new people; I handed out leaflets and emailed societies. I became known as ‘Kilimanjaro Sam’ and before I knew it, everyone I met had already heard about the trip and the numbers were tumbling in. Even some of my best friends signed up, making the whole experience very easy and enjoyable.

Once we had a team together, we started to meet up for drinks and nights out – it was nice to have a group of people from all different subjects and ages. After a few fundraising events together I began to know most of the group fairly well. A bunch of us got involved in the bungee jump and the Snowdon trip, which was great for meeting fundraisers from other Universities, some of whom we’d be climbing Kili with. As a team leader, fundraising was mostly about inspiring others with ideas and motivation, as well as offering a helping hand wherever possible. It’s a real chance to be creative and great for building up leadership and organisational skills, not to mention a huge splash of colour on your CV.

Some Sheffield Fundraisers at the Christmas market

There’s a great deal of satisfaction in watching your team’s total grow and grow through the tens of thousands of pounds. Eventually, our Sheffield team romped home with over £50K for Dig Deep and we’re now all poised for our African adventure together! After our 6-day trek to the roof of Africa, we’ll have 10 days to relax and soak up the Tanzanian culture. Most of us will be going on a Safari (another must-do in life) and then explore the romantic sandy beaches of Zanzibar with the chance to swim with dolphins, go on boat trips and explore caves. I never thought I’d be planning my third trip to the continent aged 19 but it truly is the land of hidden wonders and the home of all my best (and most bizarre) memories.

At time of writing, I have not yet climbed Kilimanjaro, but I can only tell you from all the people I have spoken to and PowerPoints and videos I have seen that it will stay in your mind forever. That’s the kind of experience University is all about… and if the highest free-standing mountain in the world isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be.

Apply to become a Group Leader at your University by visiting this link.