A Year Later: More Time to Play and Study!

Life for students at Ithingili Primary School used to be exhausting. Having to function without sufficient water made everyday things challenging.

"The rampant water scarcity within the school caused a lot of issues," said 15-year-old Caroline M.

"For instance, meals sometimes could delay, and conducting personal hygiene was onerous because there was no water in the school. Our classrooms were rarely cleaned, making learning uncomfortable. Carrying water from home was also exhausting and time-consuming, leaving me with little time to study or play with my friends."

But things have changed for Caroline and her classmates since a rain tank was installed last year.

"I now spend less time looking for water because the water point is nearby and offers a steady supply of water, even during the dry months," Caroline said. "We also manage to clean our classrooms and latrines regularly. Proper hygiene and sanitation within the school, as well as clean and easily accessible water, has led to a conducive learning environment. I get more time to play with my friends and study leading to improved academic performance."

"Hygiene and sanitation have improved, and I am more comfortable during lessons while keeping off diseases, such as typhoid and amoeba, because we are drinking clean water. I also spend less time and energy carrying water to school, which allows me to improve my academic performance," concluded Caroline.

Caroline with her teacher Mr. Mutemi.