Help vulnerable waste pickers in Kenya survive the floods

Hi, we are Eric Guantai in Kenya and Zoë Lenkiewicz in the UK.

We work with waste pickers and are responding to the current emergency situation in Kenya, with a specific focus on the needs of waste pickers in Nairobi.

Waste pickers work in tremendously poor conditions and are exposed to many risks, made worse by extreme weather.

Ongoing flooding in Nairobi has caused havoc to city residents and especially to waste pickers, who are unable to work and whose homes in informal settlements are currently submerged by filthy flood water.

As a result, they cannot access waste from residential or commercial areas and are unable to earn a living.

The same challenges affect those working at the dumpsite, which is now in a dangerous condition.

Without being able to access waste, these workers are unable to earn enough money to meet their daily needs.

Due to their low-quality housing situation, the waste pickers have now found their homes submerged in water, adding further to their losses.

They are jobless and homeless and extremely vulnerable to hunger, sickness, dropping out of school, and many other risks.

In this time of emergency, these waste workers cannot be ignored.

Without them we would live in very polluted environments.

They are our silent heroes and heroines and they need our support.

The community we are seeking to help is comprised of children and youth including orphans, mean and women, some who are pregnant or nursing infants, the physically challenged, and elderly widows and widowers.

How will your money be spent?

We will send all money raised (every penny) to the Nairobi Metropolitan Community Based Waste Management Network, registered in Kenya.

Initially, funds will be used to meet basic needs:

• Shelter – including mattresses and blankets

• Food – maize flour, rice, cooking oil

• Clothing, shoes and PPE

• School fees, books and uniforms

• Medication, vaccinations and health insurance

• Sanitary towels etc.

Any other funds raised will be invested in:

• M/F toilet block at the dumpsite to end open defecation and provide more dignified conditions

• M/F changing rooms

• Shelter from the sun

• Childcare and a children’s library

• Replacement wheeled carts, as these have been washed away by the floodwaters

• A community kitchen powered by solar or biogas

• Waste picker integration programmes and targeted support.

We rise by lifting others.

Please help if you can.

Thank you.

Eric and Zoë