Plains resident helps bring relief to Africa

PLAINS – Local Plains resident, Doreen Stokes is on a mission to better the communities of Africa by helping to provide water and trees to a village in Loswira, Tanzania

Stokes’ first visit to Africa was in 1884 where the wildlife, cultures and landscapes mesmerized her. After noticing the lack of trees in Tanzania and Kenya, Stokes wanted to be part of the solution to the deforestation that has taken place.

From there, Stokes established a Community Based Tourist Funded Reforestation Project, in partnership with World Discovery Safaris. Participants in the safari were able to interact with the locals and help plant trees as a way to “give back” to the country they had come to visit.

In 2010, Stokes began a tree-planting project in the Tanzanian village, which has a small Maasai school for local boys and girls.

So far the tourists groups who have visited have planted over 50 trees, helping to provide shade, food, medicines and habitat to the local community. Although the trees continue to survive, according to Stokes there is a lack of water for the school of 400 children and the community of 3,000 people.

The nearest water is in a 50,000 gallon holding tank two miles away and is currently carried down to the school on the backs of donkeys.

“Imagine walking two to five miles to get your water and having to carry it back to your home,” said Stokes. “I could maybe carry two gallons but it would hurt. And that’s what you get. You have to bring what you can back to your family.”

By September, Stokes plans to have a water system in place for the community.

Stokes explained that the tank is gravity fed from Mt. Meru. From there, she would like to install a gravity fed pipe that would run the water down by the school.

“It’s going to involve an engineer, we need the pipe, the tools to dig the line, a solar pump and some sort of catchment system by the school so that it doesn’t turn into a muddy mess. Either a spigot or some kind of collection system,” Stokes said.

The project will be conducted and carried out by the Loswira village.

“They’re going to be the ones digging the trenches and helping to make it happen,” Stokes said. “They then have ownership of this project better ensuring its continued success. I can’t even stress how important it is to have the local community totally involved.”

Stokes hopes to have the water system in place by September of this year. After that, she hopes to continue to plant trees in the area to help bring resources to the community.

“We can’t have water for the trees if we can’t have water for the children. That has to come first,” said Stokes.

Stokes’ continues to have a soft spot in her heart for Africa, the communities and the children there.

“For me, to be born here in the U.S. and be an American is a privilege. Even the poorest of Americans are rich in comparison to most people in Third World countries,” said Stokes. “And as an American, I believe we have a responsibility to do something in our lifetimes, to give back.”

For more information on the project go to http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/349308/emal/2356056 or Google indiegogo and type in Maasai School Water Project.