A Year Later: Shieywe Secondary School

A year ago, generous donors helped build a rainwater catchment tank and latrines for the Shieywe Secondary School in Western Kenya. Because of these gifts and the contributions of our monthly donors, partners are able to 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, Jemmimah Khasoha, with you.

The ongoing survival of many schools in Kenya is threatened if they are not able to provide water and sanitary facilities for the schools, yet it is difficult for parents to pay these expenses in addition to usual school fees.  The Water Project and WEWASAFO have targeted schools just like this because of the potential that can be unlocked for both students and staff when clean water and sanitation is available.

As an employee of WEWASAFO, Jemmimah was excited to see the maintenance of the facilities that were constructed for the school. She reports, "The toilets are cleaned on a daily basis and have been well painted to increase beauty. This is after the training on management and maintenance of the training which was done during the CTC (Child to Child training). The school also has a compost pit which is well fenced and litter is well disposed. The general compound is clean for it is fenced well with live fence which is pruned in a way that it does not make the school busy but greener. The hand washing stations are strategically fixed to enable easy usage and thus convenient with good drainage. All these changes have been brought by The Water Project for the provision of the facilities and the CTC training facilitated by the training officer." All of these elements are integral to the success of the project and the improved well-being of teachers and students in the school. Harrison Harambee, a patron of the CTC club, confirms that the biggest changes that he has witnessed are the clean environment throughout the school and the improved health of the students.

One of the students, Flavian Mukoshi, age 17, shares a very specific impact that the project has had on his life: "My life has changed because I previously visited the hospital more frequently because of allergy caused by dust. It also made me have flu for we did not clean our classrooms on a daily basis. Since the inception of these project, I am a proud student for I am able to learn in a clean classroom where we mop every week because there's plenty of water in the school."

Mr. Harrison Harambee and his student Flavian Mukoshi.

Access to water and sanitation facilities produces ripples throughout the lives of the students and their families. Students are able to devote more time to studies since they are not required to spend hours fetching water and resources paying medical expenses. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and to report the impact in the lives of the students Shieywe Secondary School and the surrounding community as they continue on their journey with clean water.

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.