Over five million people in Kenya-42 percent of the population-lack access to basic sanitation. This sobering statistic motivated Laura Rose, a graduate of the University of California Santa Cruz, to sign up for volunteer service with Lifewater International which works to build the capacity of its indigenous partner organizations through training in water development, and sanitation and hygiene education. Over the past two years, after receiving training from the nonprofit organization in both hygiene and basic and advanced sanitation, she has served as a Lifewater volunteer to educate local communities in Kenya on sanitation.
In February 2007 Laura Rose and two other Lifewater International volunteers facilitated sanitation trainings in Kisumu, Kenya. She worked with Lifewater's Kenyan partner organization to train teachers and members of local women's groups in techniques to promote sanitation and hygienic behavior in schools and communities. Because the training took place at primary schools, Laura was able to see first-hand the learning environment for teachers and students in Kisumu. Each day participants and facilitators interacted and learned together.
During her volunteer service in Kenya Laura met a young girl named Agnes, a member of a local school health club. Agnes lost both parents to AIDS and is herself HIV positive.
Laura was encouraged that Agnes's teachers planned to take the lessons they learned back to the school health club. That meant Agnes, a health club leader, would be able to teach her classmates about sanitation and instruct other students about good hygiene practices.
Heartened that her work would improve Agnes's health and give her tools to serve others, Laura said, "I experienced the deep satisfaction that comes with making a difference among those who need it most."
