(Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance) The red earth of rural Kenya is great for growing plentiful crops, trees and flowers. But not for roads. When it rains, a sticky, mucky surface forms, which dries into ruts, bumps and potholes. A good, sturdy, reliable vehicle is needed to navigate these obstacles and reach a destination safely and quickly. Additionally, the cost of a single round-trip to Nairobi for food shopping, hiring an old, unreliable taxi is around $37. After many months of research and planning, we are pleased and proud that we have been able to purchase and deliver a Toyota Voxy minivan to the Maisha home. Our board member, Bence, travelled to Kenya and used his extensive knowledge about vans to oversee the purchase and ensure the best quality, price, and value for the donated van funds. The van, an import from Japan passed our 101 point inspection test, which covered detailed checks of the interior, exterior and of course the engine. "We inspected a number of vehicles and this was the right one for our needs," Bence explained. "We anticipate it will be an extremely reliable and safe vehicle. We were thrilled to find it."
The van provides much needed sustainable transport for the home. And, after covering the on-going cost of insurance, maintenance, and petrol, Maisha can still save ~$1700 a year - money which can now be put towards school fees as more kids start secondary school, medical bills, and other essentials. Mama Maisha and the kids are excited to have the van and the massive time and money savings that it provides. A huge, thank you to everyone who donated to this campaign, to "Uncle Giulio" - our Gracias Ambassador - for his overwhelming generosity, and to Bence for donating his time, travel, and expertise! For more info, including project financials: check out our official project update to the van donors. |