Total Raised: £114,726
WATER!!!....WE FOUND WATER!!!
Almost exactly 1 year on from the Maasai's historic appearance in the 2008 Flora London Marathon, Greenforce is proud to announce that clean drinking water has finally been found in the Eluai Village area.
It has been a tough and emotional journey, hindered with frustrating delays and dissapointments. Especially when 4 drilling attempts failed to produce water for a desperate community, but in true Maasai style these set backs were over come as varrious individuals rose to the challenge. Isaya for instance, the charismatic leader of the runners worked long and hard in between his studies and duties to his family and cattle to seek out a resolution to what was fast becoming a crisis. Others joined the team such as BJ from Snake Park in Arusha, a local figure much respected by the Maasai who's vast experience in working in Tanzanaia was invaluable. In addition the community itself formed the Elaui Water Committee in order to help manage and appraise the situation forming an agreement with a neighbouring village to share the water that was found near their lands. All in all a great achievement by all those involved.
The water as stated is expected to supply two remote communities, each is having a 50,000 litre reservoir constructed and a sizable pipeline is being laid to deliver the prescious water to where it is needed most.
Further details and photos of the completed works area expected within the next month or so along with the conclusion to the film documentary that has been made to recall the entire amazing story from start to finish.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has been involved in this incredibly unique and wonderous project.
Paul Martin (Soldier Bob)
Greenforce
It has been over 8 months since Isaya, Nguvu, Kesika, Lengamai, Ninna and Taico took to the streets of London to take part in the Flora London Marathon.
The Warriors did phenomenally well, raising enough and beyond the amount they needed to get clean water in their village. However the hard work didn't stop there. Over the past few months there have been meetings, surveys, quotes, drillings... all to try and find the cherished clean water that will save lives in Eluai. Up until now, this liquid gold has remained elusive.
We knew water was scarce in Eluai, that is why the Warriors wanted to run the marathon, but we didn't know quite how scarce. Back in September we were brimming with optimism as Isaya proudly took us to the location that the water surveyors had told him there would be water. Appointed Project Manager by Greenforce, Isaya had spent the previous couple of months dashing around Arusha getting quotes from different water companies and learning about the partially-exact science of finding clean water. The site Isaya took us to was marked, in the Maasai way, by a few thorn branches around a stake in the ground. A goat was sacrificed on the site to bring good luck and final discussions were had about the site. Evidence on the surface did not look hopeful - there were drought resistant trees and sediment in the erosion channels. If there was water here, it would be deep down. This is what the survey had told us and everyone advised that we put our trust in science and drill a borehole to see if there was water.
About a month later drilling commenced, but after going down over 140m, there was nothing but more rock. It was very disappointing, but Isaya and Paul who had flown to Tanzania to help with this phase of the project, had built up a good network of local experts and with the help of Vincent Shirima (Managing Director of Water Solutions Drilling Company Ltd), planning for the next steps got underway. A local dowser, renowned across the region for his abilities to find water, was called in and he conducted another survey. Once again this found just more rock. We were beginning to learn more about the geology of Eluai. There were a number of fault lines which littered the area. These faults can throw a spanner into the works with the surveys, as they exhibit the same results as underground water does. In addition, just to complicate the task further, they present a large change to the geology of the area - drill one side of the fault and you could find millions of litres of water, drill just a few centimetres the other side and you could find absolutely nothing. We realised how much the odds were stacked against the village of Eluai and what an enormous difference finding a clean source of water would have to such a remote community.
Disheartened but not defeated we sought to improve our chances. Three surveyors were called to carry out a survey of the area and tell us where they thought there was water. Each surveyor checked the others work to give a second opinion. We hoped that we would find one point and get three "yes's". However we got three different points, all in the same area, with each of the other surveyors agreeing that there is a chance there may be water there, but unable to agree 100% with the assertion of the other surveyor. Once again we were left with a choice - drill using the information we had been given and have a decent chance of hitting water, or don't drill and have no chance. We had to drill.
This time we hit clay - a definite improvement and perhaps an indication that water was not far away. However it could mean that this was what the surveys had been picking up, and not water. We sought advice and got the core analysed. We were told to go 40m lower, which we duly did. Once again our luck was out.
With the rains coming in we decided to hold fire and use the enforced break to look at other options. And this is where we are now. We've not given up on the idea of drilling for underground water, but we're looking at other options. Rainwater collection has been suggested to us, and we are seriously considering a filtration system using the dirty water from the dam in Eluai which is used by the Maasai's large head of cattle. This water is so filthy and disease-ridden that we need to be 100% sure we have a completely effective and maintainable filtration system, otherwise we could cause more harm than good.
Please let us know if you have any ideas, if you know of anyone who is an expert in water solutions or if you have ever seen any novel ways of getting clean water to a remote area.
The difficulty we're having in finding water makes us even more determined to find it. And when we do, knowing how difficult it is to get our hands on it, it's going to be that much more important to the Maasai, and taste that much sweeter.
Isaya said it best when he said
"..the finish line of the Flora London Marathon is not the finish. The finish is when we can turn on a tap in our village and get clean drinking water!"
Greenforce is now currently hard at work dealing with various experts and suppliers to arrange the neccessary drilling and construction works in order to bring clean drinking water to Eluai village.
It is, in our opinion, vital that every detail of the operation is carefully considered and reviewed before any drilling works are commisioned. It would be disastrous to rush into such an operation such as this as it could easily result in a very expensive, very deep, dry hole!
Greenforce is currently working towards the following objectives;
- Instructing a verification survey of the subterranean water location
- Inviting competative tenders from drilling companies for construction works
- Inviting competative tenders for service / maintenance and training schedules
- Conducting checks on drilling company credentials
- Formulating agreed construction programme / time line
It should be noted that although we are proactively pursuing the above objectives, it is often found that the coordinating of works in some less developed countries can be slow and frustrating.
But race director David Bedford was in no doubt who stood out as the personality of 2008. “The Maasai warriors have to be the defining image of this race. The reception they got and the colour they gave the event will probably end up as one of the greatest memories I’ve got in the history of the event,” he said.
Dave Bedford, Race Director, Flora London Marathon. Evening Standard Supplement
In Tanzania after years of little rain the search for water has become increasingly desperate. Initially it was the cattle that died, the very thing that the Maasai depend on to live. Now it’s the village Elders, the sick and of course the most vulnerable of all, the children who are dying. All for the want of something we all take for granted every day – clean drinking water.
A group of young warriors from Eluai village have realised that, in order to survive, they must do something. Led by Isaya, a bright and charismatic young man they have decided to take on the responsibility of bringing clean drinking water to their village.
Retaining their pride and dignity they will run in the Flora London Marathon as ‘Maasai’, wearing their traditional clothing, jewellery and shoes made from car tyres. They will be carrying their shields and sticks just as they would if travelling across their homeland.
Such courage and dedication to preserving their homes and lifestyles should not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
We ask you to support their cause by sponsoring these warriors in the Flora London Marathon.