By Isaa Muad Abdirahman

This semester, a group of students carried out their community service project at Wings of Compassion, a community-based institution that works with vulnerable people for education, rehabilitation, and empowerment. The project aimed at improving security, promoting water sustainability, and enhancing digital learning.

Wings of Compassion is grounded in the fundamental moral theory of human dignity and social justice, and its advocacy in accordance with Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which guarantees the right to education, clean water, safety, and adequate living conditions. The organization has gradually broadened its responsibilities in response to new social and economic issues affecting marginalized populations. Its growth agenda is compatible with Kenya’s Vision 2030 – particularly the social one, which calls for greater security, infrastructure, and community welfare. And its mission aligns with important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those addressing clean water and sanitation, sustainable communities, infrastructure development, and strong institutions. In these frameworks, the institution’s approach to history serves as a testament to its commitment to advancing vulnerable communities and creating an environment in which disadvantaged individuals can succeed.

The first part of the project was focused on enhancing security with the installation of CCTV surveillance and strengthening the weak points that were located in the perimeter. This is important as the institution contains many vulnerable people who need to be kept safe and secured from external dangers. Enhanced security has not only increased caregivers' confidence but also offered the beneficiaries a sense of safety, which allowed them to concentrate on their emotional and psychological health, an important prerequisite for persons in recovery from trauma.

The second part of the project improved the institution’s access to clean water by the installation of functional gutters and a 3,000-litre rainwater storage tank. It was reported previously that the institution had problems with an inconsistent water supply, which hindered sanitation and its day-to-day activities. Now the new system helps provide a steady and cheap water source, especially in dry seasons. Now that water has been effectively stored, it has managed to relieve strain on the population due to unreliable municipal supply and has reduced the cost associated with the purchase of water at critical periods. In addition to cutting costs, increased water access has improved hygiene standards throughout the facility. The institution can operate in a clean condition if water is regularly available, including the cooking areas, toilets and washing, laundry, and general maintenance. This is especially important in the rehabilitation of a residential setting, in which health, hygiene, and dignity are paramount to healing and reintegration. And the water tank also improves the institution’s climate resilience by making it weather-resilient against dry seasons, droughts, and supply shocks—risks associated with increasing variability in climate.

The third component addressed the enhancement of educational activity by providing a TCL 55-inch television to support visual instruction, communication skills, and student motivation and participation. Although not yet installed, this technological upgrading will enhance the institution's ability to provide a variety of educational content, all of which could be interactive.