Mifuko Trust received project support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for its WASH and Grow! project for the years 2021-2023. The project has recruited a full-time project coordinator to Kenya and a part-time coordinator to Finland.
Wash and Grow! -project raises awareness about ecological sanitation and creates business opportunities out of it in rural parts of Kenya. The project contributes to healthier communities that have improved living conditions and livelihoods. It brings together a diverse group of actors: 24 women’s savings groups in Kenya, three Finnish NGOs and a company. The implementation of the project is done by women's groups and Mifuko Trust, supported by the expertise of the Global Dry Toilet Association (GDTF) and Ukumbi ry, expert in sustainable architecture.
The team
Peter Maundu Manyolo is an environmental and public health expert. He has practical experience in implementation of community development projects in various sectors: water, sanitation & hygiene, health and agriculture, environmental conservation and child protection. He has successfully implemented donor-supported community projects in Makueni county in Kenya where Wash and Grow! also takes place.
At the moment Peter is establishing Wash and Grow!- office in Kalawani. He is eager to do his best to make the project work efficiently and be beneficial for the communities of the area and women’s savings groups.
Anita Lintula has worked for several Finnish non-governmental organisations in project management and communications. She has a master’s degree in Social Sciences and is also a yoga teacher, shiatsu practitioner and sexual counsellor. She is keenly interested in combining body-consciousness in decision-making and is inspired by women's entrepreneurship which creates new pathways in these challenging times globally.
“It’s refreshing to cooperate directly with women’s self-help groups. I have been involved in the eco-village movement so dry toilets and ecological farming methods are a bit familiar to me but I am looking forward to learning lots more during this project. I am also a fan of East African handicraft and Nordic design. I wish to support Peter in his work the best I can.”
The key development problems addressed by the project are poor WASH conditions and degrading soil that hampers small-scale farming. These problems increase illness and undermine food security, leading to increased poverty and loss of livelihoods.
