View allAll Photos Tagged token
A few days ago I spotted this embedded in the tar on Lake Lansing Rd at the Meijer store. At the time I thought it was a quarter, but didn't have time to look at it closely. There's a lot of traffic on this road.
Today, we walked to the store for an apple and on the way back there was enough time to try to photograph it, This was the clearest shot of the bunch. It's clearly not a quarter, but some sort of token.
Zoe Charlton (www.blackmedusa.net) and I are collaborating for an upcoming show called Token at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Silver Spring, MD.
Credit: InOldNews | Juliah Wairimu
Location: Lelen Village, Baringo County, Kenya
Date: December 17th, 2024
Description:
Lelen village, located deep in the heart of Baringo County has long suffered first-hand the effects of drought. But a solar-powered-borehole is helping the local community access water for almost 4 years.
The borehole runs on solar energy, and like an 'ATM,' it dispenses water day and night. Its access is controlled by special pre-paid token cards. The villagers do not have to wait for their turn to fetch water, with each tap releasing 20 liters of water at a time. The cost for 20 liters is 5 Kenyan shillings, or around USD 0.04. In addition to human consumption, another pipeline ensures that livestock also have a constant supply that meets the standards for their survival. The cost for providing water to livestock is 1 Kenyan shilling ($0.01) per cow, and for goats, the cost is 50 cents.
This initiative is a model of resilience in a drought-prone region. The initiative is run by county authorities and the local population. And a network of distribution channels is in place to bring water to adjacent villages. Through modest fees, maintenance costs are borne by the villagers. In a place that values and is acutely aware of the need for water, the community-powered borehole in Lelen village stands as a model of human innovation and community courage.