The Fanya Jamii project began when young Engironmental Engineer, G.Willson stayed in the Nairobi Ghetto of Dandora, with local Luo tribesmen Phillip and Deno Otieno. There, at the Villa Teag orphanage, children continue to have a dangerously higher than normal incidence of S.Typhis infection. (average of 3 new cases per month from a group of 40 orphans. Combined with ultraviolet disinfection, Permanant installations of water purification systems similar to those employed historically for for removal of Typhoid, Cholera, Ebola, Chemical contaminants, odors, turbidity, color, larva, rotifera, alga and other water bourne pathogens.
The current primary goal of our continued work is to develop 2 new water systems in Dandora, Nairobi, and to train local tribal groups to build and maintain simple systems responsible for their own potable water needs, as well as to develop new income models for impoverished communities in the form of direct aid to refugee camps at risk of water borne disease outbreaks. Secondary goals, which are equally important are to help engage the youth culture in areas where our projects are underway in meaningful dialogues through the mediums of hip-hop, bongo flava, reggae, and indigenous musical and artistic expression. Workshops in Tanzania and Kenya have included hemp fiber weaving, herbal medicine preparation of medicinal infusions and tinctures, production of music for radio play, HIV education, clay stove making, environmental education in swahili and english, poetry and freestyle rhyme workshops, web literacy teach-ins, svo diesel design forums for seed oil presses, small generators, and autos, 3 bucket slow sand filter contruction, microcredit, and HIV youth education.
Our work needs your support to continue. We hope that you can get involved with your time and energy. Financial contributions are always welcome, and tax deductions for larger funds can be made available through our partner NGOs in the US, Italy, Mexico, and France. This kind of financial support enables this important work, by helping Fanya Jamii to improve its planning process, volunteer training, methods of developing a long term sense of "local ownership of projects", while clarifying the relationship in human terms between environmental degradation and conservation/sustainability practices that have proven themselves effective.
"How can I Help", Ram Dass [1] Ram Dass also created the Hanuman Foundation, which developed the Prison Ashram Project to help prison inmates grow spiritually during incarceration, and the Dying Project, a spiritual support structure for those facing death. Seva Foundation addresses curable blindness in India and Nepal, restore the agricultural life of impoverished villagers in Guatemala, assist in primary health care for American Indians, and bring attention to the issues of homelessness and environmental degradation