Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025, and what incredible news we have to share! Connie Nielsen, founder of Human Needs Project, and Kristina Yarmolich, our Executive Director, recently visited Kenya and joined our team on the ground. Here are some highlights from this productive trip!
A Warm Welcome in Kibera
Connie and Kristina spent a full week in Kibera, strategizing for 2025 with our Kenya team, witnessing firsthand the progress the Human Needs Project has made in Kibera and beyond, and engaging with the local community.
From visiting Kibera’s first mini-market—built by a community member who took out a loan from our SACCO bank to start his own business—to harvesting over 700 kg of tomatoes in a day from one of our greenhouses, we covered a lot of ground. Check out our Instagram for more video highlights and interviews!
Celebrating Water Access with Water Hope Foundation
We were honored to be joined by Alison Hollman, and Steve and Tracy Tomkovicz from the Water Hope Foundation. Thanks to their generous support, we built four new water points and purchased a water truck last year, allowing us to distribute 11 million of clean water in 2024! The community held a special opening ceremony to celebrate this milestone, symbolizing the lasting investment in clean water access.
"I am a mother of a child living with a disability. I used to leave my child alone for two hours while walking long distances to get water. Now, with the Maranatha water point just two minutes away from my home, I only leave my child who has autism for a short time. This is much better for his mental health, and my life is so much easier." — Anisa Amish, Maranatha Water Point customer
Strengthening Partnerships
Our journey also included a visit to the Danish Embassy, hosted by Ambassador Stephen Schønemann, where our team had the privilege of dining with the Embassy team, fostering stronger international collaboration.
We also gathered with our Kenyan friends, including Sandeep Khapre and Karim Premji, advisors to our project and our new water brand Aqualuxe.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming our long-standing supporters from the Grundfos Foundation, including Deputy Director Christian Toft Ramsbøl. Together, we visited a potential site for our satellite center expansion in Kibera.
Exploring New Opportunities in Masai Mara
During an exploratory visit to Masai Mara, we engaged with the Masai community to assess potential infrastructure projects for the vulnerable Masai community. This visit combined insightful discussions with the beauty of the region’s landscapes, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development in Kenya.
Our US leaders loved every minute of our trip and they can't wait to be back in Kenya soon! We have big plans for 2025 and a lot of work ahead. Join us in our mission to transform communities with essential services and infrastructure.
We are inspired every day by the community we serve and the dedicated people who make our work possible. Thank you for being part of our story!
With gratitude,
Human Needs Project team
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