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History Joshua Mukusya

1984
Simon Maddrell, Executive Director of Excellent Development, meets Joshua Mukusya, a Kenyan farmer and development worker, to plan a venture scout expedition to Kenya.
1985
The expedition, led by Simon, visits Kenya to support Joshua building sand dams and domestic water tanks with rural communities.
1988
Simon completes a study of the first 10 years of the Utooni Development Project (UDP), started by Joshua and six families to provide solutions to their problems of food and water.
2000
A pilot project to add tree planting to the UDP terracing and sand dam model is started by Simon and Joshua.
2002
Excellent Development is formed in the UK to support Joshua to expand UDP's model throughout Eastern Kenya.
2005
Excellent Development Kenya (EDK)  is formed as an NGO in Kenya. 
 
2008
 
Excellent Development wins the 'Environment Charity' and 'Overall Winner' at the 2008 Charity Awards in the UK.
 
2009
 
Excellent becomes the 'Small Charity, Big Achiever' of 2009 at the Third Sector Excellence Awards.
 
2009
 
EDK becomes fully independent and renames itself 'Utooni Development Organisation' in recognition of its roots. 
 
2010
 
Excellent Development expands its vision to promote sand dams throughout the world as a solution to water issues in dryland areas.
 
2011
 
Excellent Development relaunches to become 'Excellent - Pioneers of Sand Dams'.
 
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