By Florence Chepkoech | Project Leader
Greetings from Kenya Rainwater Association and Happy New Year 2016!
Kenya Rainwater Association has, with funding from the well-wishers from this platform and far and wide been implementing a project in Matuiku Primary School, Kenya, titled the “Clean Water & Sanitation for Kenyan Primary School” project since February 2012. The project came to an end in December 2015.
Poor diet and nutrition is a major concern in rural schools, even where the government provides lunch through the school feeding programme, the diet is not balanced as it mainly consist of boiled maize and beans. Improved water supply, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition are unfortunately not prioritized within limited school budgetary allocation. Moreover, community development projects rarely integrate schools’ water supply, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition. To address environmental degradation and effects of climate change, our schools’ project also integrates establishment of tree seedling nurseries and tree planting which also target the pupils as change agents among rural communities. This leaves the responsibility of ensuring access to safe drinking water, good sanitation and hygiene and improved nutrition to the poor parents, whose efforts are limited by financial resources especially in semi-arid districts. It is against this background that Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA) was compelled to integrate a school WASH and nutrition component in community-based projects in water scarce counties of Kenya
Construction of 72m3 farm pond - lined underground storage reservoirs: Ultra-violet (UV resistant plastic lined underground tank – open rectangular farm pond – was constructed as water source for school vegetable garden is now complete. The farm pond was excavated manually to the specified dimensions and lined with a 0.8mm thick high density UV resistant plastic material, which prevents seepage losses, whilst evaporation is reduced by roofing the pond with iron sheets. The roof is also a security measure to prevent drowning of children and livestock. To draw water, simple hand pump (hip pump) was provided. The farm pond was also fitted with double chamber silt traps and screen filter – to reduce siltation and eutrophication due to floating biological matter to improve water quality.
Establishment of low-head drip irrigation system: A 230-litre mini-tank drip irrigation system will be installed for the establishment of the school vegetable nursery after school reopens.. Drip irrigation technology is water-use efficient and appropriate in water-scarce areas, and fits well with RHM systems. The vegetable garden will be established and installed with drip irrigation system. The school vegetable garden will improve nutrition and school income, and also act as demonstration site for the local community on how to diversify livelihoods – food security and poverty reduction.
The school community reiterated the fact that inadequate WASH, food security and livelihood diversification were some of their most pressing needs. The anticipated project impacts on the other hand includes enhanced food security and nutrition status; improved health among pupils and teachers;better academic performance in schools;increased period during which beneficiaries will have water; as well as increased resilience to negative effects of climate change.
All these and much more will not have been posible without YOU!
This year we look foward to your continued support,collaboration and friendship as we identify yet another needy school that badly needs your asisstance. I keep you posted !
Happy and Blessed 2016, tell a friend to tell a friend!
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