In January 2005, physiotherapist and sportsman Alan Kerins travelled to the town of Mongu in western Zambia with nothing more in mind than a short three month stint as a voluntary physiotherapist in a local centre for physically disabled children. What he saw triggered an initiative that has since helped change lives and futures forever.
Alan travelled out to spend three months as a physiotherapist at the Cheshire Home for Physically Disabled Children run by the Presentation Sisters. Having seen the depth of poverty and deprivation that engulfed the entire region, he felt compelled to help in more sustainable way. The rains in winter 2004 had been the poorest Zambia had experienced in 77 years. Sitting at the centre of Western Province, an area about three times the size of Ireland perched out on the tip of the Kalahari Desert, drought threatened to ravage the area around Mongu. Water was scarce, food was even harder to find. When Alan was leaving, he asked Sr. Cathy what he could do to help in a small way when he went home. Her reply was simple – the biggest immediate problem was access to clean water – people in the local community were walking up to 10 km to find water in the drought conditions. €5,000 would build a community borehole in Mongu for clean drinking water and crop irrigation.
Water Tower & Borehole
When Kerins came home with his story, he found an audience willing to listen, and help. Images from photographer Damien Eagers helped the Irish understand the scale of the problem that was taking place thousands of miles away. The response from the public was overwhelming. Within 6 months, over €50,000 was raised and invested in a food programme, borehole for clean water, block-making project and housing for the vulnerable, all under the auspices of Sr Cathy in Mongu.
Farmer with yolk of ox
Such was the huge response that Alan Kerins African Projects was established a registered charity in 2006. Although the organisation has supported projects in other countries such Ethiopia, Uganda, and Haiti, the focus of the organisation remains in Western Province in Zambia. In 2010, the name of the organisation was changed to Alan Kerins Projects.
Educating for Life
Since 2005, over €1.5 million has been raised on behalf of the Alan Kerins African Projects, the monies invested into a variety of essential projects and services.
The support that that organisation continues to receive from friends and supporters has been unwavering and is hugely appreciated.
