CFEBA Grant Delivers Critical Irrigation Infrastructure in Uganda
Through the generosity of our many sponsors and contributors, the CFEBA played crucial role in improving the quality of life for an entire village in Uganda, by awarding 2 grants in 2017 to Innovation Africa, totaling $103,000. CFEBA partnered with Innovation: Africa, an 501 (c)(3) non-profit, to provide life-changing solar water pump and drip irrigation technology to the Akuyam Village in Uganda.
Innovation Africa Founder and CEO Sivan Yaari and her team were on a humanitarian mission in Karamoja Uganda, when they unexpectedly ended up in the Akuyam Village. The ongoing drought had created famine conditions on a scale they had not witnessed before. In February, while Innovation Africa’s team was there, 37 people died from starvation in one week. People had no choice but to eat leaves and mice to stay alive.
With the help of CFEBA donors, Innovation Africa has completed drilling beneath the ground in the aquifer, has installed a water tank, a solar pump, and solar panels to pump water up to the tank. The Akuyam village now has access to CLEAN WATER! The last phase of the project was finalized in the spring of 2017 and the water taps throughout the community were opened, providing access to clean water in 10 locations for the 4,600 people that call the Karamoja region home.
The Innovation Africa team has been working to train the community on irrigating seeds and seedlings and they are having tremendous success, as seen in pictures below. Prior to the completion of this project, their only water source was seasonal river water, that the average family had to fetch 3-4 times/day. During the dry season, the wait time for water was 3 hours or more. Even when the water was available immediately, it was contaminated, causing many cases of diarrhea, cholera, skin irritations, cough, typhoid, and more.
I truly hope one day in the near future we can travel to Karamoja together to see first-hand how CFEBA has transformed their lives… I can't express enough my gratitude to you and EBA for your generous and life-changing contribution.
Sivan Yaari, Founder and CEO of Innovation Africa
Additional funds raised by the attendees of the 2017 Power of Water fundraising gala, enabled Innovation Africa to provide funding for additional water taps for the village, as well as distribute food and seeds to the community to help alleviate the famine and hunger that has devastated Akuyam village.
I truly hope one day in the near future we can travel to Karamoja together to see first-hand how CFEBA has transformed their lives… I can't express enough my gratitude to you and EBA for your generous and life-changing contribution. Sivan Yaari, Founder and CEO of Innovation Africa
We are so excited to know 4,600 people of the Akuyam Village have fresh water at their disposal.
Thank You Message from Akuyam Village, Uganda
The video below was recorded when the village first heard the news that they were going to receive the funds needed to bring them clean water and assistance growing food. A woman from Akuyam Village in Uganda says: "Energy Bar, thank you, please rescue us from suffering. We want water."