The water is flowing!

A milestone for our ERAMATARE SCHOOL

There are moments that stay with you. When water first flowed through the new pipe to the Eramatare School in Engaruka, tears welled up in my eyes. After three and a half years of effort, a bitter setback, and great perseverance, our dream came true: our school has been supplied with clean running water since September 13, 2025.

The road to achieving this goal is long. A well constructed in 2022 fails to deliver the desired results – neither the quantity nor the quality of the water is sufficient. The obvious alternative, building a water pipeline, is technically challenging and expensive. But just at the moment of disappointment, a new door opens: A quiet observer from ERAMATARE facilitates contact with Engineers Without Borders Austria (IOG). Thus begins a wonderful collaborative project.

After two years of intensive preparation, construction is beginning in Engaruka. The plan is to build an almost eight-kilometer-long water pipeline from an existing reservoir to the Eramatare School. Until now, the school has relied on expensive and unreliable water tanker trucks. The new pipeline will provide a permanent and reliable water supply – a crucial prerequisite for education, healthcare, further school growth, and the establishment of a vegetable garden.

On site, the IOG's work begins with organizational tasks, material procurement, and getting to know local partners. This is followed by weeks of intensive work, during which the Maasai men pitch in: excavating the trenches, crossing rivers and roads, concrete work, laying and welding the pipes, and constructing the water distribution building at the school.

Despite the heat, dust, and physical exertion, the atmosphere remains consistently positive. Team spirit, motivation, and mutual respect characterize daily life. Every day it becomes more apparent what is possible when people work together.

I am impressed by how bravely and energetically these very young volunteers master all the challenges! And believe me, they are real challenges that demand patience, perseverance, trust, creativity, and true mastery. Dear IOGs, you can be proud of yourselves!

The close collaboration with the local community is particularly valuable. Project partner Kaira, founder of the ERAMATARE SCHOOL, plays a central role in the local organization. The IOG team is supported by dedicated volunteers, cooks, drivers, and specialists who enrich the project not only practically but also personally. Cultural encounters—for example, with the Maasai warriors, the Morani—make this time especially memorable.

After seven intensive weeks, the moment has arrived: the water pipeline reaches the school. Water tanks are installed, buildings are connected, and washrooms, showers, and toilets are completed. Then comes the big moment: the water flows – for kilometers – onto the school grounds. This milestone is celebrated together with the students, project partners, and staff.

With the official handover to Kaira, the project has been successfully completed. A tree will be planted together as a symbol of life, growth, and the future. It represents what this project is all about: sustainable development through cooperation, trust, and perseverance.

Only at home do all IOG team members meet up to exchange ideas and celebrate their success together.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was part of this project and helped to make water flow – and life grow.