The Samburu Project

My wife and I moved to Nairobi, Kenya in 2018 to volunteer as a business coach for an
organization associated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. As we
traveled around Kenya we became familiar with the people of Samburu in the central part of
the country. We also looked around for non-profit organizations we could support that were
helping those here in Kenya and were very efficient in their efforts and where the money
raised was actually used for advancing the purpose and not on administrative overhead.
After a couple years, we learned about The Samburu Project (TSP)and spend another year
getting to know their team here in Kenya (totaling five) and the Executive Director and
Director of Operations in the US as well as the board members. In 2021, I became a board
member and later became Treasurer, which positions I still hold and we still live here in
Kenya. A few years ago, we also funded one of the wells and had the unique opportunity to
visit the village from before they had a well to last week once again. We saw the entire
process TSP goes through with the villages including bringing in a hydrologist to drilling of
the well, to educating the community on how to best maintain the well. After the well was
opened, we went back to the village and they had been able to raise some funds to hire a
teacher to start a school under a tree. As of last week, they were educating over thirty boys
and girls and will soon hold their classes in a newly built building. So, we have seen
firsthand the impact TSP makes to communities as they are provided water. As we say --
'water is life' and we have seen the impact of water to a great number of communities (we
have visited many of the over 150 well communities TSP has provided water for in response
to those communities' requests.) What we especially like about TSP is that they work with
the communities before, during and after drilling wells. Over 95% of all the wells drilled by
TSP in nearly 20 years are still functioning. The TSP staff in Samburu visits the
communities and helps with ongoing maintenance. And, TSP does more than just provide
water. It helps educate women and works with other organizations to promote feminine
hygiene education and works with girls' schools to provide better facilities. Living in Kenya,
we are aware of many non-profits that attempt to help locals - in our opinion, TSP is one of
the best in working together with the locals and not assuming we know better than the
communities as to what they need and then making sure we support them after the wells are
drilled and the communities reap the benefits of having access to water nearby. And, we
continue to be grateful for the opportunity to visit the communities and see how thankful they
are for TSP and the changes they have been able to make to improve their lives and
educate their children. We are blessed to be associated with TSP and be part of the impact
they make to the people in Samburu. So, while TSP might be known for working with
communities to drill wells, what I believe is TSP works with all Samburu people to see how
easier access to water can improve their families' and communities' lives and TSP is there to
support them as they go through life.

I love The Samburu Project! I have been to various communities they serve, before and after water, and the difference is amazing. Sanitation improves, and therefore health improves. When the mothers have more spare time (not fetching water) they can spend that time earning money. Some opt to spend that money on a teacher and start a school! Access to clean water is the start of so many great things for communities in Samburu.
TSP is a small, nimble, frugal organization. They watch their dollars and spend them where it helps the people they serve. I have experienced their impact first hand, and it is the charity I choose to support.

At Kapa Oil Refineries Ltd, we believe in the power of community and the importance of sustainable practices. Our partnership with The Samburu Project has been transformative, enabling us to contribute to a vital cause: providing access to clean water for the communities in the Samburu region.
Through our collaboration, we have successfully drilled a well in Subulei, that has significantly improved the quality of life for countless families. Access to clean water has not only alleviated the burden of water collection but has also empowered women and children to focus on education, health, and economic activities.
The Samburu Project’s commitment to sustainable development aligns perfectly with our values at Kapa Oil. Together, we are making a tangible difference, and we are proud to support initiatives that promote hygiene, health and general well-being in underserved communities.
We look forward to continuing this impactful partnership and expanding our efforts to uplift the Samburu community.

The TSP team literally bring Life to Samburu through water and their other related projects! They deliver their promises to the communities and are completely integrated and sensitive to the culture and dynamics of the area. As a partner, TSP is very professional, hard working and fun to work with. They are making IMPACT!

I had the privilege to travel to Samburu in June 2022 and visit several wells installed and maintained by The Samburu Project. Seeing the communities that these wells support was so enlightening and heartwarming. TSP has transformed their lives! I was so moved by what I saw that I donated a well to help another Samburu community gain access to clean water. It is so meaningful when you know your gift is going to help in such a tangible and profound way. Everyone should have access to clean water! I’m so grateful to Linda and the team at TSP for all the great work they do.

As a volunteer for The Samburu Project, I truly cannot put into words how this organization has changed my life. From the beginning of my internship with the organization, I felt welcomed and could tell how passionate everyone is about the work they are doing. I had a chance to experience both the fundraising side of TSP, as well as, the groundwork that occurs within the organization. They are making such a great impact on people's lives in Samburu. I was able to see this when I attended their menstrual hygiene event. It was only a few hours long, but just from that I could see how many young women they were able to help through this event, and what a movement they have started. Every school represented at this event performed an assortment of poems, speeches, dances, and songs that all echoed the sentiment that women should feel empowered through their menstrual cycle. The pride I witnessed at this event is unlike anything I have seen in my life and is just one example of the difference TSP is making. The Samburu Project is always going the extra mile in any way they can and it's represented through everyone who is part of the project.

"Water is Life" and this organization provides water to people in the Samburu region of Kenya where women and girls may have to spend hours walking to get water. Amazing work, keep it up!

The direct impact that The Samburu Project has on the people, schools, villages, and communities that they work with is truly unparalleled. Children wave on the street as we pass by in TSP's car. Women and kids stop and cheer as they see our logo as we roll by.

What is uniquely brilliant about TSP (and what I love) is that no one involved in the organization is content going into a new community, drilling a well, and leaving. Yes, alone, that would be a life-changing action that would make a big difference in many people's lives. Instead, after countless meetings with village members, hiring a local Kenyan engineer to deduce the most effective place to place a well, and then actually drilling it, TSP stays.

All across Samburu, wherever TSP has even a small footprint, they promote health, gender equality, education, sustainability, and so much more. When I was at TSP's Kenya Office, no days were taken off. We had a different workshop to lead or class to teach every day. In one week, we attended three different schools to open new showers, toilets, and even a computer lab.

I have never been a part of a team so dedicated to a cause and to each other. Everyone at TSP cares deeply about their work and the people they work with and for. You can't ask for much more than that.

I have served on the Board of the Samburu Project for 11 years, and hold this non-profit very dear to my heart. This small, grass roots organization has a accomplished a lot in the past 15 years, considering their size. To date, TSP has drilled over 140 water wells in drought stricken areas of Samburu, Kenya.
As a result, women and girls no longer have to walk miles to collect dirty, unhealthy water. They are now free to anttend school with their brothers, sons and other male family members. Women have created small businesses and the possibilities are now endless as the reality of women's empowerment now stands at the forefront of the organization. The majority of money raised by TSP goes directly to drilling the wells and advancing these programs, with the remainder going to a well organized overhead. I am very proud of this organization and will continue to support their accomplishments and goals.

TSP is an incredible female-led organization that I have been lucky enough to be involved with TSP for almost 10 years and have served as a board member for 3. I have also had the privilege of spending a summer in Samburu working with the team on the ground and seeing firsthand the huge impact this organization has made in the community. What sets TSP apart from other organizations is that they continue to work with the people and communities years and years after a well is drilled ensuring sustainability and a long-lasting impact.

The Samburu Project is an amazing female-led organization that drills fresh water wells in Kenya. Each well serves approximately 1,000 people and results in the elimination of waterborne disease while empowering women. Women and girls in the Samburu region walk an average of six hours a day to retrieve unhealthy surface or shallow well water. With a new water well, women are freed up to pursue trade opportunities that enable independence. The number of girls attending school increases an average of 50% in new well communities as they no longer have the duty of walking with their mothers. All of this is achieved for an average cost of $22 per person benefited. An amazing bang for your donation dollar.

The Samburu Project (TSP) is a terrific organization. The impact of its work is so tangible and immediate. Once TSP drills a clean water well, in collaboration with the local community, life is transformed for the better. Health improves, dignity is enhanced for women and children, and food insecurity declines.
I have known TSP's leaders for nearly a decade, and they are high integrity and dedicated people. This is an amazing organization for global-minded donors and volunteers who want to support a grassroots nonprofit making a huge impact.

As a donor, I am very impressed with The Samburu Project's work over the years for several reasons:
1) They are effective because of their focus (the Samburu region), and because they install AND maintain the wells. This means that the wells continue to function and provide clean water for many years.
2) The ROI is very high since the benefits/returns are high due to point # 1, and since their administrative costs are relatively low (relative to other non-profits)
3) They have a small, but dedicated staff and group of supporters
Your support will be greatly appreciated, and put to good use

I have been a board member with the Samburu project and so am impressed with the impact this organization has. The staff are amazingly dedicated and work incredibly hard to make sure as many people as possible have access to clean water. Thank you for all you do!

TSP is an awesome grassroots organization doing great things for the Samburu people! I recently visited Wamba and saw first hand what an integral role and how much respect this small but mighty organization has amongst the communities it serves.

We are delighted to be among the many supporters and donors to The Samburu Project. We are impressed with the substantial number (over 100) of water wells drilled and equally important -- maintained. These wells continue to bring life saving clean water to the remote villages in the Samburu region. Additionally, The Project provides gardening workshops and other educational support to the villages they service.

The Samburu Project is a well-run lean organization that manages to do much to change many lives.

Manny and Jackie Silverman

Incredibly gratifying. I’ve never seen a more direct connection between a gift and the recipients. Access to water is tangible and life-altering. Great organization.

The team at The Samburu Project truly care about the work that they do. I feel very fortunate to be able to contribute to this mission while working with such caring and hardworking people.

Had a great night working for the samburu project at splash bash 2019. The people running the event are extremely sweet and appreciative. The event itself was a fun experience and it was great to help out an amazing cause.

I have worked with The Samburu Project in the past to raise money for wells. However this year I decided I wanted to take a step further by volunteering at their annual Splash Blash. It was an amazing event and was run phenomenally, one of the best experiences I have had thus far.

TSP's cause of bringing water to Samburu seems simple but it has profound impacts on the lives of the people they touch. They may be small but they have big ambitions and actualize them in a scale unlike any organization their size. Their message is straightforward, but with water they have brought, enterprise, industry, education and empowerment to that community and that is inspiring.

I've been co-president of the club at my high school for the past two years and interned at the organization over the summer. They're a really small organization (I think they employ about 6 people, but have 2-3 employees in California). I absolutely love the organization! They put so much effort into everything they do and look for plenty of ways to get everyone involved, and they value everyone's role a lot. Something I think makes The Samburu Project more unique than most is that they take great measures to preserve the cultural integrity of the Samburu people, for example they're really big on employing the Samburu people to build the wells, rather than having completely foreign people come in and build the wells and maintain them. They also don't just build the wells and leave, they're really big on ensuring the maintenance of them, that the people know how to use the wells, and expanding upon the impact the wells can have. They're always looking for new ways to fundraise and educate people about the community, and are really transparent and honest with the way they go about their work. I'm so grateful I was given the chance to work so intimately with them, and I believe everyone should take the time to check them out and get involved however they can.

I've talked to everyone I know about this organization because it means a lot to me, and I believe that even being a part of it has lasting effects. At all the events my friends and I have participated in for The Samburu Project, we've had loads of fun and got to be a part of something greater. They make it really easy and fun for people to get involved and educate everyone about the importance of the world water crisis, and how it impacts the Samburu community.

The Samburu Project is an amazing charity doing work in Samburu, Kenya. They are a dedicated organization following the best development practices - their projects are sustainable and they work in one specific region. Their work on water access changes lives, and helps in women's rights, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and education. TSP is a great nonprofit that works hard to make change.

The Samburu Project is an awesome nonprofit that raises funds to build wells in Kenya. One of my favorite things about TSP is that they partner with and have relationships with the people in Samburu County. While interning at TSP, I have been able to hear about all of the amazing things they are doing as an organization and have been able to witness first-hand how passionate each of the employees are about giving water to give life. It has been a pleasure working with and learning more about the work they do!

Access to clean water can be easily taken for granted. Over four years ago Kristen Kosinski set out on a journey and traveled through Samburu for 3 months by herself. She discovered one common thread among all of the tribes. NO WATER! Women and girls spent days walking endless miles in search of water. She came back to the states on a mission to bring water to the thousands of people in desperate need. Samburu Project has changed the landscape of women's health, prosperity, education and commerce by drilling 25 Wells in the last 3 years - bringing water to 50,000 people! She has made it part of the Samburu Project mission to create programs around women's empowerment in the local communities. One person CAN make difference. Kristen is an inspiration to so many and I know the people of Samburu are thankful for her dedication and compassion.