Author: Tony Taiti

Over the past few weeks, construction work has been underway on a brand-new washroom facility at the Koisamo Community Centre, and if there is one thing we have learned from this project, it is that building in Koisamo is never as simple as it looks.

Nonetheless, we are pleased to share that the project is now in its final stages, bringing us just days away from completing what will become the very first structure at the Centre.

The facility includes separate pit latrines and shower rooms for boys and girls, as well as a concrete roof platform that will support a 5,000-litre water tank. Once installed, the tank will help ensure that water shortages do not disrupt activities at the Centre, especially during prolonged dry spells that occasionally affect the area.

Getting to this stage, however, has not been without its challenges.

Construction began during a period of unusually heavy rainfall in Koisamo, an area that is normally classified by the Kenya Meteorological Department as part of the Rift Valley lowlands. The persistent rains left the ground heavily waterlogged, creating a major obstacle during the excavation of the pit latrine.

In fact, our original construction site had to be abandoned altogether after it became clear that the soil was too unstable. The team was forced to identify a new location on higher ground with a more suitable mix of rock and sand that could safely support the structure.

The weather was not the only challenge. Poor road conditions made it difficult to transport building materials to the site, causing delays that stretched the construction period by more than a month. What should have been a straightforward process often became a test of patience.

Despite these setbacks, work continued steadily. We intentionally entrusted the construction to locally qualified masons who know the area well and have done an excellent job. Like many rural communities across Africa, things sometimes move at a slower pace than one might expect, but the quality of their workmanship has made the wait worthwhile.

Today, the project has reached the roofing stage, one of the final milestones before completion. For the many children who attend sports activities, camps, mentorship sessions, and other programmes at Koisamo, the new washrooms will make a real difference. After a long day on the football field or participating in community activities, they will finally have access to clean water and proper facilities to freshen up.

As we look ahead to the completion of the washrooms, we cannot help but feel encouraged. Every challenge overcome, every bag of cement delivered, and every wall raised has brought us closer to this moment.

We are now only days away from celebrating a major milestone; the completion of the first structure at Koisamo Community Centre. And for us, that is proof that the vision for Koisamo is becoming a reality, one step at a time.

An important structure is slowly but surely taking shape at the Koisamo Community Centre.

Over the past few weeks, construction has started on a new washroom facility. It may seem like a simple addition, but for the children and young people who come to the centre every week, it matters more than it might appear at first glance.

If you’ve been around Koisamo, you’ve probably seen how much the space has grown. What began as a small gathering point has gradually become a place where children come to learn, play, build confidence, and feel at home. As the numbers have grown, so has the need for something very basic but essential: clean, safe, and accessible sanitation.

This washroom is a direct response to that need.

It may not be the most visible part of our work, but it is one of the most important. It supports dignity and health, and it makes it easier for children, especially girls, to take part in our programs without discomfort or interruption.

There’s something encouraging about seeing the foundation come up. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always come in big, dramatic moments. Sometimes, it looks like this; steady, practical improvements that make the space better for everyone.

Like many community projects, though, we can’t complete it alone.

We’re inviting friends, partners, and well-wishers to be part of this. Whether through financial support, materials, or simply helping us share the story, every contribution helps move this project closer to completion.

At Overflow Communities Kenya, we believe real impact often starts with meeting everyday needs. This is one of those moments.

If you’d like to be part of it, we’d love to hear from you.

At the beginning of this year, we asked a simple but honest question at the Wezesha Community Centre in Koisamo: What do the children and young people here truly need?

Not what we thought they needed. Not what looks good in a proposal. Just their voices.

Their answers were both clear and unexpected.

Of course, they want to learn computer skills. They want books. They want opportunities. But again, and again, they spoke about something deeper, a place where they can breathe. A place that feels safe. A place where they don’t have to be strong all the time.

One boy told us he comes to the centre because there’s no space to play at home. A girl quietly shared that between school and chores, she has no room to think about her own life. In those moments, we realized that what we are building is more than a program. It is a second home.

So yes, the football sessions will continue. The music classes will go on. The girls’ empowerment program remains a priority. But this year we are paying even closer attention to the things that are easy to miss, the new friendships, the shy child who is beginning to speak up, the young person who is slowly starting to believe that they matter.

That is the real work. Not the activities. The people.

To everyone who has walked this journey with us, thank you for making this space possible. And if you are just discovering us, the invitation is simple: come and visit. Sit with the children. Listen with us. There is always room for one more.

At Overflow Communities Kenya, we don’t throw around words like “transformation” lightly. It’s not a banner we hang at events and forget about. It’s the quiet, everyday work of showing up for children and families who need someone to believe in them.

We run programs. That part is true. Literacy support, counselling, sports, girls’ empowerment, music, agriculture. But those are just the doors we open. What really matters is what happens once people walk through them.

Take our Sports Program. On the surface, it’s football and volleyball. But if you hang around long enough, you’ll see something else taking shape. Young people learning to lose without crumbling. Learning to win without gloating. Learning that the person next to them has their back. That’s not just a game. That’s life.

Our Music Program works the same way. Yes, we help young people sing better or play an instrument. But the real work is helping them find a voice. Helping them see that their talent can be more than entertainment. It can be a way to encourage someone else. To serve.

And then there’s the Agriculture Program. We don’t show up with big theories and fancy manuals. We stand next to farmers in the soil and talk about what’s actually working. Better harvests. Stronger income. Food on the table. That’s the kind of change you can measure in more than numbers. You can see it in a mother’s relief.

All of this comes back to one thing we believe deeply: people don’t need to be saved. They need to be walked with. Listened to. Trusted. When we build solutions together, something shifts. Dignity returns. Families grow stronger. Young people start to believe that their future isn’t a dead end. It’s wide open.

If any of this resonates with you, we’d love to have you alongside us. Maybe you volunteer. Maybe you mentor a young person. Maybe you just show up and see what happens. Regardless of how it appears, you’re welcome here.

Together, we keep building.