Back To Africa With RainCatcher

It's been almost 2 years since my last trip to Africa. A lot of progress has been made by a group raincatcher.org. I have the pleasure of tagging along and documenting their amazing work. They give people in remote areas pure, clean, safe drinking water by harvesting rainwater in large tanks and distributing portable super filters to villages in need. These unique filters are changing lives and turning horrible nasty water into crystal clear, safe, drinkable water. I invite you to follow me as we hit the red dirt roads and go deep into Kenya and Uganda for an amazing heartfelt adventure. We leave for our journey March 14th, 2011.

SAFARI KENYA

Safari Kenya

Wildlife? I got your wildlife! Masai Mara is a Wildlife Refuge thousands of acres big. It is a beautiful magical place for you to drive for hours and enjoy seeing various types of wildlife in their natural habitat (no fences, no cages). Safari vans flood the opening gates for game drives every morning and evening. The area is so big though, you can lose the other vans and not see anyone as far as the eye can see across the jawdropping landscape. The area is in the heart of where the Masai tribe roams. They are friendly nomadic people who make most of their living herding goats. In Masai Mara you can expect to see everything you can imagine. There may be more Zebras than Texas has cattle! Lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, water buffalo, you name it. The "Mara" is a bumpy, earthquake rattling 5 and half hour road trip from Nairobi. You will more than likely have a headache by the time you arrive, but that goes away quickly when entering this amazing, picturesque park.

Raincatcher Schools Kisumu (Kenya)

Another round of schools with Raincatchers. Each time we visit a school you can hardly get out the door as the kids swarm around the car like bees on honey. Smiling, waving , and laughing. If you want a small taste of rock star status visit a school in Kenya because thats the kind of greeting they give you. No one is camera shy out here! I took another long walk to a water source which was unhealthy for them but its all they got when the tanks run dry or for people who do not have raincatchers. The schools that have them need multiple tanks to get on cycle with the rains, and the schools that don't have them are begging the program for them. Water is in all of the headlines, and newscasts everyday here. Its a big problem. The teachers tell me that because of the Raincatchers their students health improves dramatically and they're able to pay more attention in class. Children and women fetch water. Most of the children take the long walk to the water source twice a day to fetch water, once for school, once for home. As I mentioned most walk between 3-5 km to the water source. I can't tell you how many children as young as 7 yrs old I've seen walking long, rocky, jagged paths with buckets on their heads. With the raincatchers they don't have to walk to the source if there are enough tanks. It's interesting how much we take water for granted back home. Rainwater harvesting is a simple and interesting way to conserve. Can't wait to share the video when I get back! Tomorrow we visit an orphanage wit the Raincatcher systems. I'll keep you posted if the internet cooperates. Thanks for reading!

Bondo Western Kenya

Fred Mango. My friend and part of the Raicatcher Team

Our adventure begins in Western Kenya. We are staying in Kisumu and the schools we visited are down broken, rich, red dirt roads hardly passable by car. An area where if you own a Donkey you're considered wealthy. There are 12 Schools in Bondo that are fortunate to have the Raincatcher systems. Children without them have to walk as far as 5KM to get contaminated, dirty water in buckets. We are greeted at every school, some have nearly 600 students. The students rush to the car singing, chanting, and dancing. They are warm and friendly, and so darn cute! 5 of the schools out here were donated to Raincatcher by actor Dennis Haysbert (The Unit, former President Palmer on 24, baseball fans know him as Pedro Serano) Dennis donated the raincatchers for his cast and crew on the Unit. Behind us is an example of the water tanks that store and filter the rainwater. So much more to see and do. I'll keep you all posted when internet service allows....(raincatcher.org)

KENYA

From the end of July through the start of August, I will begin an adventure throughout Kenya.  With a backpack and a video camera I will explore and create stories featuring a wonderful group known as raincatcher.org.  Raincatcher turns the worlds water crisis upside down by simply capturing what mother nature provides.  By harvesting rainwater children and people in villages are provided safe, clean, pure drinking water.  I invite you along my journey.  Follow me on this blog as I share with you an amazing part of the world!