Friends of the Valley Aims to Reduce Poverty in Kenya by Building Dams and Irrigation Systems

BURTONSVILLE, Md. - July 9, 2013 - PRLog -- As millions of people suffer from poverty in Kenya, social entrepreneurs like Steve Sergon, are trying to find ways to provide clean drinking water to those in need. With his project, Friends of the Valley, Sergon aims to strengthen the relationship between Kenyans and their government by identifying worthy community projects in the Kiboino Village.

On May 15, 2013 the governor of Baringo County in Kenya, Benjamin Cheboi, visited the site of Friends of the Valley’s proposed dam project in the Kiboino village. This was a momentous event for the project, as it shed light on the major poverty issues the community faces. Sergon believes that Governor Cheboi’s visit will not only motivate the community to work harder toward the completion of the project, but that “his presence and interest in the issue will ensure the project to be successful.”  

The purpose of this project is to both reduce poverty through the irrigation of farms, and to provide clean drinking water. The building of the dam, as well as the irrigation system, will affect the lives of more than 25,000 people in the Kiboino village.

Friends of the Valley’s advisory committee member, Dr.  Solomon Kendagor, believes that without the building of this dam, there will be continued starvation, disease, and lack of productivity in the Kiboino Village. He believes that this dam will save thousands of villagers from starvation, and generate business opportunities that will stretch beyond Baringo County.  

Not only will Friends of the Valley be assisting the Kiboino Village in the completion of the dam, but they will also be planting trees on July 13^th. Advisory Committee Members, Elizabeth Bischof will be traveling from Switzerland to assist with the project, as well as Shanon Astley, who will be traveling from California. A donation of just one dollar will provide the community with one tree to plant. To donate, please visit their website at http://friendsofthevalley.org.

The charitable mission of Friends of the Valley is to promote community participation in eradicating poverty in Kenya through the building of dams for clean drinking water and irrigation; promoting food security; and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Friends of the Valley is sponsored by UCP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor of active charitable programs. Through UCP, Sergon is able to focus solely on his program’s charitable mission, rather than on the administrative burdens that an independent nonprofit can have. All donations to Friends of the Valley program at UCP are tax-deductible. For more information about Friends of the Valley, please visit their website at http://friendsofthevalley.org.

UCP's mission is to empower people to help others by fiscally sponsoring targeted charitable programs that effect positive change through charitable, educational, scientific, or religious actions worldwide. UCP programs vary in size, budget and scope, but all share the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. For more information about UCP and fiscal sponsorship, please visit www.UnitedCharitablePrograms.org.