Friday, 14 February 2014

Safe Water Packages Distribution - in Pictures

Every month, Friends of the Old distributes 100 safe water packages to needy senior citizens in Nyakach. This is done at two events at two locations, in each of which fifty packages are distributed. These events are always busy days full of activity.

FOTO Director Dinah Chienjo addresses recipients

Safe water packages sorted in formation
A cross section of recipients waving next to their new packages
A solar cookit is an important element of each safe water packages that is given. These events provide a good opportunity to practically demonstrate solar cooking to the recipients by preparing lunch on solar cookits.
Recipients sampling solar coked food with relish
The men also had their fill of tasty solar cooked food

His children came as well, to help carry the package home
Off they go!

FOTO staff (in blue) helped recipients with their packages

A handcart was "at hand" for door-to-door deliveries

Thursday, 13 February 2014

FOTO distributes new 2014 Calendar courtesy of IWHA

In the month of January, FOTO made and distributed calendars to residents of Nyakach. This was funded by our partner International Water and Health Alliances through facilitation of Prof. Bob Metcalf.
A happy friend of FOTO after recieving certified seeds and the calendar

The calendars were given to households, partner community organizations and non-governmental organizations operating in Nyakach.

Some recipients of calendars and certified seeds

The calendar depicts beneficiaries of some of FOTO's activities who have recieved reading glasses, Waterguard, certified seeds and safe water packages. The FOTO logo is centrally placed and a staff photo completes the gallery.

FOTO calendar 2014 hangs prominently in a recipient's living room
Due to high demand, more calendars are being made for distribution in early February.  This calendar will go a long way in increasing awareness of FOTO's activities and improving our visibility in Lower Nyakach. Many thanks to IWHA for their contribution towards this end.

Sunday, 9 February 2014

FOTO distributes100 packages in January!

2014 began on a high note for Friends of the Old, following a funding boost thanks to partners Solar Cookers International.

Starting January 2014, distribution of safe water packages increased to 100 recipients every month, up from 50 previously. One hundred household received safe water packages in January. The solar cookit will enable them to cook food and pasteurize water using renewable solar energy. Safe water pots will help recipients store drinking water, keeping it safe from contamination. Lastly, the upesi jiko and fireless cooker will minimize the use of firewood, saving costs and helping in environmental conservation. 

50 January Safe Water Package recipients (Nyalunya location) in a group photo

Also thanks to Solar Cookers International, starting January, Friends of the Old is currently conducting solar cooking demos in all the twelve locations of Lower Nyakach. Big crowds attend these events, which attest to widespread interest and curiosity in solar cooking. FOTO hopes to improve the adaptation of solar cooking in villages through these demonstrations.

Tasty: some foods solar-cooked at the distribution event

The current phase of funding will enable Friends of the Old to distribute safe water packages until June 2014. On behalf of the grateful recipients in Lower Nyakach, FOTO thanks Solar Cookers International for their generous funding towards this life-changing intervention.

Senior citizens taste solar-cooked food

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Floods hit West Nyakach

Heavy rains in Kenya have resulted in countrywide flooding, including in Nyakach. Houses were damaged and livestock lost in the floods.

Many inhabitants of West Nyakach moved to a nearby primary school where a temporary camp was set up to house them. Friends of the Old (FOTO) visited the camp and donated Waterguard, which they can use to purify their drinking water during these hard times. (Much of the flood water is contaminated and potentially disease-causing.)

Some eager recipients
 Through the generosity of International Water and Health Alliance, FOTO was able to provide Waterguard to the camp dwellers.

Happy young ones
Needless to say, more needs to be done for flood victims besides Waterguard provision; however, FOTO's resource capacity is insufficient to meet such massive challenges comprehensively.

On behalf of Lower Nyakach residents, FOTO would like to thank IWHA and all other donors, who fund interventions that enhance their lives in a variety of ways
.
Thank you IWHA!


Tuesday, 5 February 2013

FOTO distributes Waterguard in Nyakach

 Friends of the Old distributed 4,800 bottles of Waterguard in Nyakach in January. Thanks to the generous funding of International Water and Health Alliance (IWHA) and individual donors, four hundred bottles were distributed in each of the twelve locations.
Something to smile about

Waterguard, a water treatment chemical that eliminates E.coli and makes water safe for drinking, is distributed every month. This has reduced incidences of typhoid, cholera and other waterborne diseases.

Something to take home

FOTO appreciates the funding facilitated by International Water and Health Alliance and private donors such as Larry (New York), Valerie (Sacramento), Dorah (Sacramento), Cary and Gary (Sacramento), and Jim and Nancy (Sacramento) who made January's distribution possible.

Happy, shy, happy

Other activities of Friends of the Old in Nyakach include WASH training, safewater packages distribution and distribution of certified seeds. Donor funding makes all these possible.

FOTO distributes 30 safe water packages: Rang'ul Location

Thirty residents of Rang'ul Location recieved safe water packages on January 2013 thanks to funding from Solar Cookers International.

A safe water package includes Solar Cookit set, safe water pot (with tap and lid) and a pot stand, a hay basket (fireless cooker) and a fuel-saving stove (Upesi jiko). These items will help the beneficiaries to pasteurize, store and drink safe water.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude and commended Friends of the Old for the generous work. All credit goes to Solar Cookers International .

GROUP PHOTO: Their smiles say it all


 

Sunday, 16 December 2012

FOTO goes online!

On Sunday December 16th, 2012, Friends of the Old acquired a blogger.com address! FOTO will now post regular updates and information on www.friendsoftheold.blogspot.com.

You can find more information about FOTO's activities and goals on our About page.

Feel free to visit often.