A Year Later: Mwangaza Secondary School

A year ago, generous donors helped build a rainwater catchment system and latrines for Mwangaza Secondary School in Western Kenya. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Christine Luvandwa, with you.

Mwangaza Secondary School is very clean, on entering the school compound we were amazed at the level of cleanliness and orderliness. Everything seemed to be in its rightful place and the students were very neat. Given that water is the main requirement to ensuring a high standard of hygiene is maintained, this water project has greatly contributed to this achievement as the harvested rain water is being used for drinking, cooking and cleaning. The sanitation platforms are also very useful as they have eased the strain that was previously being experienced by the school population reducing the amount of time wasted lining up during brake times to access the facilities.

CTC (child-to-child) Patron Charles Indakwa Chiteri shared, “the school has experienced less problems with water shortage, which has been a great challenge in the previous years, and now we are glad to report that there is plenty of water for cooking, drinking and also cleaning. With the excitement with which the students have embraced the project, plenty of reports about any problem that the students encounter with the facilities is immediately reported to the school administration without delay, and this has enabled us to maintain the facilities properly.”

“I am now more confident to look and talk about health and hygiene, since I understood the basics and importance of health at all levels,” shared 20-year-old Christabel Ayuma Shituya. “The things I practice at school are the same things I practice at home. As the president of the Child to Child club in school, I now have the confidence to address people and we have managed to recruit more members. I stay clean because I know I have to lead by example. This has greatly improved my relationship with other students."

The water is very clean, safe for consumption by all people without worry of contracting any water related diseases. The environment, as mentioned earlier, is very clean, the students and the school has really worked to see to it that the place is kept very clean, thus providing an ample learning environment. All this has given the school a face lift and an image admirable by other schools and especially primary school pupils who are yearning to join high school.

Refresher training needs to be done for the school, just as a reminder for the students on the importance of sanitation. Continuous support by our team representatives for some of the club meetings in the school can greatly help mentor more students to take up leadership in different areas in the school as well.

The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to 4 times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.