Clean Water & Sanitation for Kenyan Primary School

Greetings best wishes for 2017. It is our hope that you are energized for the New Year. We are also excited to start by reflecting on what we have achieved together for the past year. I wish to first extend a warm welcome to the new members and well-wishers to our platform.

Last year through your generosity we were able to assist Murichu Primary School in Murichu Location, Ndaragwa Division, Nyandarua North sub-County, Nyandarua County. The school has total population of 250 (120 girls, 121 boys and 9 teachers). Murichu Primary School’s WASH project was identified during a situational analysis carried out by KRA in collaboration with the partnering local communities.

 The findings of the participatory needs assessment proposed the following interventions:

ü  Increase sustainable water availability for drinking through construction of rainwater harvesting systems (roof catchment water storage tank (90m³);

ü  Improve sanitation and good hygiene practices in school through construction of gender-sensitive improved latrines  three blocks VIP for  boys , girls and teachers; and

ü  Build the capacity and increase knowledge of local communities on rainwater harvesting, improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

In my last update, I had reported that the tank and the girl’s latrine were ready for use, the boy’s block was underway and today am happy to report that its construction is complete and the whole project was commissioned at the beginning of this year in attendance were parents, local government administration staff, and representatives of Kenya Rainwater Association.   

The project constructed ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine for girls, boy and the teachers and a masonry rainwater harvesting tank. The sanitation situation in the school was in pathetic condition, only one wooden latrine  was in use since the others were no longer in use as they were sinking, teachers and students were in extremely dire need of better latrines.

PROJECT IMPACTS

The project was implemented successfully and the significant impacts have been realized, and the pupils, teachers and parents cannot hide their appreciation. According to Mr. Gerald Karoki Kariuki, the head-teacher Murichu Primary School, the following are the changes already being experienced in the school:

a)      Reduced water borne diseases among the children leading to improved school attendance

b)      Increased water supply all year round for cleaning, drinking and cooking in the school leading to reduced water burden for the children

c)       Improved nutrition due to the increase vegetable production in the school through irrigation

d)      Improved performance as children are now able to concentrate on their studies instead of wasting time going to fetch water

e)      The new gender segregated pit latrines provide privacy especially for the girls hence reducing the rate of girl child drop outs in the school. Parents can now allow their children to go to school without fear of them falling into the pits

 I look forward to your continued collaboration and wish you the best for this year. As always, we welcome you to let us know how we can work together for sustained individual and collective impact in the WASH project for rural needy schools in Kenya. Until next time, let us keep the conversations going on our various online channels. 

THANK YOU

Happy end year 2016, festive season greetings from Kenya Rainwater Association!

School dropout and low literacy rates, especially among the girl child, can be largely attributed to poor sanitation more specifically the lack of access to separate and decent toilets impedes girls access to their education, which can be supported and fostered by something as basic as a girls only toilet.

 According to a 2010 Baseline Survey only a third of schools have safe water sources in their compounds and had child friendly latrines. Although most of the schools had separate, gender specific latrines, the majority of them did not meet the national pupil to toilet ratio standards for boys or girls. It is notable that even in the schools that had latrine facilities, a significant number of these infrastructures were in a pathetic state and not gender sensitive. It thus became apparent that the schools could become dangerous grounds for infections due to the overburdened and overused sanitation facilities. To avert the situation Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA) chose to work hand in hand with various non state actors to improve pupils’ access to improved WASH as a basis of improving the health status and economic empowerment. KRA’s interventions included development of water supply and sanitation facilities in schools which is achieved with maximum participation of school and community throughout the entire project cycle including planning, implementation and management.

One such intervention has been going on in Murichu primary this year and so far a water tank has been constructed for rainwater harvesting to foster clean and safe water in the school. The other components of WASH are the gender segregated latrines comprising of separate blocks for boys, girls and teachers.

Construction of the latrines is underway and the girls block is ready for use, we expect this to boost the girls esteem when they return next year since before their latrine was in a pathetic situation, most girls would miss school during their menses as their latrines had fallen doors without a privacy wall.

 The other blocks will be constructed with your continued support, goodwill and friendship.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy 2017, I hope next year will be busy with activities of putting a smile on the faces of many more pupils as we promote WASH in Kenyan Primary Schools together.

God Bless You!