Community
Where is Kowak?
Kowak is a village of 5,000 residents of the Luo-Imbo tribe situated in the Rorya District in Mara Region of northern Tanzania, East Africa.
Saint Brigit Church
The life of Kowak revolves around the Saint Brigit Church, located between the girls' secondary school and the hospital. You can see how much excitement surrounds this church blessing at Makongoro by Father Conard!
Kowak priests also travel to 15 other small churches in neighboring villages. Kowak people belong to the Luo tribe and speak Swahili. They are mainly small subsistence farmers depending on employment at the school or hospital. If you’d like to make a donation towards Saint Brigid Church click the link below!
Clean Water for the Kowak Community
Friends of Kowak aims to assist the village elders, known as the water committee, in repairing and maintaining the existing water well (borehole), elevated water tank and associated piping. Our goal is to also support the improvements needed by addition of pumps, tanks and rain water harvesting systems where appropriate (on houses).
Planting of crops revolves around the rainy season. The rain also replenishes the local aquifer. So, dry years means less water for crops and for cows and goats, and less water for domestic use, including for the school and the hospital. Drinking rain water that is not treated properly often causes health problems.
Due to water shortages in the Kowak area, Fr Conard decided not to build showers for the Girls' School fearing such facilities would consume too much precious water. Instead, girls shower with buckets of water. “Fancy showers don't increase the quality of a student's education. Better put the money towards books", according to Fr Conard.