Improve Education for 400 Children on Idjwi Island

We have more exciting news this summer from EP Buhumba on Idjwi Island!  For the first time ever, our more than 400 students have running water at school to drink and wash their hands!  As the school year begins, this new resource at the school should pay immediate dividends with improved hygiene and a reduction in illness. 

Last month, members of our leadership team and local representatives oversaw a three week construction project that brought water nearly two kilometers from a nearby well to the primary school.  A total of 17 workers, including 8 from idjwi Island, completed the project.  As the sinks were installed between the classroom building and the latrines, the students will have a convenient place to wash hands after they take a bathroom break.

Improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is a critical element in preventing neglected tropical diseases such as diarrheal illness and schistosomiasis. For instance, studies have shown that improved sanitation can reduce schistosomiasis by as much as 75%. The water supply is one part of a program to improve health, hygiene, and learning at the school. This month, our medical team will be making another visit to the school to test and treat children, and will provide further instruction on hygiene and disease prevention.

Girl Scout Troop 4065 of Washington DC provided substantial support toward making this water project possible. The Idjwi Island Education Fund is truly grateful for community partnerships such as these who continue to make our programs possible.