A Year Later: Essunza Primary School

A year ago, your generous donation helped us construct a rainwater catchment tank for Essunza Primary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – and we’re excited to share this one from Lillian Achieng with you.

The school students and staff has been able to believe in themselves more than ever before. They strongly believe they are able to handle any other project having participated in the implementation of this one.

The pupils look more clean. We can attribute this to the clean classes they sit in, the homes they come from and the environment they play in. This has all improved due to the availability of reliable water at school and the knowledge the students acquired during the hygiene and sanitation training when the project was implemented.

"The tank has minimized water shortages at the school and the handwashing facilities have helped improved the students' health," deputy headmaster Declan Onyino said.

Deputy Headmaster Declan Onyino

Construction of the tank is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This tank in Essunza Primary School is changing many lives, including 15-year-old student Hellen Angoya.

Hellen Angoya

"Previously we used to come to school with water from home. Now, the teachers don't have to send us back home to get water or even punish us when we fail to bring it," she explained.

Students can concentrate more in class when they are not worried of carrying water from home and the punishment that may accompany the failure of bringing the water. That change is evident in the performance of the students. The school's average test scores improved in the year since the completion of the project. The access to safe water is also leading to improved health for students.

"I personally don't experience stomach pains now that I drink clean and safe water. The hand washing facilities also have really improved our health," Hellen said.

A student using one of the the handwashing stations

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise and how you can help.