Water has always played a crucial role in the local land-use systems in the Maasai territory in Kenya. The traditional Maasai pastoral economy developed system of moving herds and people to have access to critical dry-season water points. These permanent water sources became increasingly inaccessible to livestock and pastoral people.

Domestic water use is also put under strain by both its bad quality and growing scarcity. Most African women do not have access to pure water, but rather water that is muddy and contaminated. Fetching water can take up to five hours every other day, with carriers loaded down with containers weighed down with 30 kilos, i.e. 30 liters of water. Even the smallest water-carriers, some as young as five, carry 10 kilos, which leaves them little time for attending school.

The idea of building sinking wells came about in early 2006 as a response from Sara Lee Kenya employees to a severe drought that hit most of the country in general and the Maasai territory in particular. In partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, two sites were identified, where shallow wells were dug and fitted with manual hand pumps. Almost overnight, 3,000 families suddenly had ready access to clean water.

During the Malaki distribution, the Kiwi Global Brand team saw many children with a diet that lacked vital vitamins. Together with the local team, they came to the conclusion that this fertile soil could provide the Maasai with more to eat than corn flour (which has hardly any nutritious value at all) by simply using the land in a better way.

The resulting idea was to combine the well project with a school garden project: By building wells, people would find it easier to settle, which would mean that children would go to school. So why not teach the teachers and children to make better use of the land?

To start the project, the Kiwi team asked the Agricultural University of Nairobi to assign one of their students to develop and spearhead the implementation of this idea as part of her/his Master's project. The next step was to identify schools we could strike up partnerships with in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross.

The following main process started:
− Decisions were taken on what could be planted.
− Seeds were provided by the Kiwi Team.
− Water tanks were installed.
− The land was fenced by planting trees to act as wind breaks and barriers from animals.
− The land was ploughed and seeds were planted.
− Drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were installed.

Teachers and students and members of the community were given training in order to introduce continuity to the progress being made.

As a result, three schools are currently involved in the projects.