Sylvia N., 15, a Tyaa Kamuthale Secondary School student, remarked about life before installing the rain tank last year. "We experienced a lot of water shortage, and being a girl, it was a difficult period since we could only wash our garments once or thrice weekly."
Not only did students' hygiene suffer, but the school's overall hygiene was neglected due to lack of water. "Our dormitories also suffered from poor hygiene since they could only be washed occasionally. The lack of water also meant that classes could only be swept, and we had to stay outside until the dust settled down, which reduced our academic performance."
But the new rain tank has made a difference over the past year. Sylvia shared, "This waterpoint has improved hygiene in our school, including the classes, dormitories, staffroom, and the compound at large. Also, I am now able to access clean water for drinking, and the learning environment is clean, which has reduced illnesses such as coughing. I am now able to concentrate on my studies with comfort, thus better grades for better career opportunities in [the] future."