Tweed River (Australia) – Nairobi (Kenya)

The Tweed Shire Council from New South Wales, Australia, four time finalist of the National Thiess Riverprize, has established the Tweed-Kenya Mentoring Program (TKMP) in Nairobi to improve rivers and living standards in the impoverished people’s settlements of Nairobi. A network of youth groups across Nairobi has been established with the aim of raising awareness of water and environmental issues within their communities and of carrying out restoration projects. The project also improves access to clean water and sanitation facilities in parts of Nairobi and rural Kenya through implementing sustainable, solar powered water filtration units.

 
Tweed-Kenya Mentoring Program Part 1-Y-CLEAN in Nairobi
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View a video on Y-Clean activities filmed in the slums of Kibera
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Achievements

In 2006, a fully operational office with a full-time desk coordinator in Dagoretti, Nairobi, wasestablished. Relationships with NGOs, aid organisations and government agencies have been strengthened. Exchanges and visits of Tweed project officers, volunteers and IRF ambassadors in Kenya have fostered this mentor-based twinning project. It has included hosting young orphan Sam for six months in Tweed Council for the purpose of cultural and educational exchange. A youth and community tour of the Dagoretti river catchment resulted in a project proposal aimed at the restoration of the Kavuthe river stream by utilising the energy of youth groups in the slum.

Safe Water 1 in Obambo-Kadenge 

In March 2007, the "Safe Water Project 1" under the umbrella of the twinning project installed a self-powered, sustainable water purification system in the rural community of Obambo-Kadenge, Kenya, which provides safe and clean drinking water to at least 3,000 people. Local people have been trained in management and maintenance of the system. The community has also been educated about sanitation, hygiene, health issues and water resource management.

Safe Water 2 in Ohaya

In November 2008, Tom Alletson, Project officer from the Tweed Shire Council, implemented the second Safe Water Project in the village of Ohaya.

View a video on how the Safe Water Project provided clean water to a rural community in western Kenya:

 
Tweed-Kenya Mentoring Program Part 2-Safe Water in Ohaya
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Tom's Safe Water diary [pdf, 1.4 MB]

A day-by-day account of an extraordinary experience in Kenya!

For further information, visit Tweed Shire Council’s website

Read the latest article 'Tweed generosity brings clean water to slum'
(Sydney Morning Herald, 23 October 2007)

Twinning and its benefits for a Kenyan community

Mentoring a Kenyan community