How WE REACH started
In 2017 Erick Bosire’s vision was to form a non-profit organisation based in Kakamega, Western Kenya with the aim improving the health and well-being of children and young people in local communities using sustainable solutions through knowledge sharing, advocacy, and collaborative working.
His vision was made a reality when WE REACH gained registration as Community-Based Organization (CBO) in September 2019 with the Department of Social Development Office of Kakamega County. Erick became the Executive Director and Board Secretary alongside a Board made up of five Kenyan citizens who are were and continue to be passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Kenya..
Its first project, WASH in Primary Schools, started in the first term of 2020.
Following the success of the CBO, the organisation advanced to the status of NGO in 2021 when it was registered with the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board of Kenya.
Erick Bosire:
I was born in Kisii, an area near and very similar to Kakamega. While growing up I witnessed children and young people facing tough challenges leading to poor mental and physical health. This engendered in me a desire to become involved in a career to help alleviate such issues.I qualified from Kenyatta University with a degree in Public Health. Since then I have spent 8 years working for non-profit support organisations in Kenya. During this time, I realised that although there is a lot of good work being done by such organisations, still much needs to be done.While working in Kakamega from 2015 to 2018, I noticed three significant gaps in the provision of support. These were WASH in primary schools, the health and well-being of young people.
This gave me the idea to set up a charity to address each of them. Consequently, I founded WE REACH CBO, and had it registered as a charity in September 2019. Its’ aim is to improve the health and well-being of children and young people living in Kakamega, County, Kenya, starting with WASH in Lurambi Sub-County. Local involvement is vital to the success of any such endeavour, so the Charity is now working closely with the County Government, the schools’ Boards of Management and Head Teachers to provide sustainable and community led solutions.
Consultancy support is provided by UK based retired Civil and Water Engineer Steve Ashton BSc. MSc FICE FCIHT