Samburu Project’s water well in Milimani, Wamba, completed in July 2007, enabled the 30+ member Milimani Women’s Group to undertake a sustainable community-supported farming project.  The group came together to enhance their daily income through small scale farming which is a step towards having an alternative means of livelihood rather than depending solely on livestock.  The Milimani farm now produces cabbage, kale, tomatoes, potatoes, maze, beans, passion fruit, and other fruits and vegetables. Excess produce is sold in town, generating 450,000 KES (approximately US $6,000) in annual income. With this revenue, the Milimani Women’s Group holds a bank account and provides “no interest” loans to group members to open shops, sell items at local markets, and participate in livestock trading. The Milimani Women’s Group Agricultural Initiative serves as a model to other tribal communities on how to maximize the impact of their wells to improve the long-term livelihood and well being of its members.

The M. Night Shaymalan Foundation is partnering with the Samburu Project to support the Milimani Women’s Group Agricultural Initiative in Wamba, Samburu East, Kenya.  Through this partnership, the women will install a generator and pump to complete Milimani’s drip irrigation system, creating a steady supply of water on their farm. Once the irrigation system is fully installed, the group will be able to triple their income.  The Milimani Community consists of approximately 1,000 people who will directly benefit from The Milimani Farm.  Additionally, thousands of people in the town of Wamba will now have access to fresh produce, significantly enhancing their nutrition and lives.

Founded in 2005, The Samburu Project is a US-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that collaborates with communities in developing countries to enhance men, women and children’s daily lives by providing resources that address immediate needs and promote long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency, while supporting cultural integrity. The Samburu Project’s primary focus is the Samburu region of Kenya. The Samburu Project Kenya operates as a CBO in Wamba, Samburu, Kenya and a NGO in Kenya.

• To learn more about the Samburu Project, go here.