Giving Update: Kenneth Marende Primary School

The life of students and staff at Kenneth Marende Primary School has greatly changed in terms of water access, sanitation status, as well as hygiene practices since the installation of their WaSH facilities last year. Previously, the school did not have enough facilities to accommodate their needs for safe water, sound sanitation, and proper hygiene. Provision of the 50,000-liter rain tank has seen this school take responsibility for regulating its water access by introducing rationing measures to ensure that there is water in the tank whenever possible.

Regarding sanitation, the school has separated the latrines for boys and girls, unlike in the past when both boys and girls shared the same facility which was only separated by iron sheets. This situation was highly uncomfortable for students and robbed them of privacy.

The concept of handwashing with soap has been taken in with lots of pride by both teachers and the pupils who are all up in arms to ensure that no one misses washing their hands, especially after visiting the latrine. All this has been achieved through the provision of the rain tank, VIP latrines, and handwashing stations that were delivered to the school last year.

Students get a drink from the rain tank

Little by little, the entire school compound is changing aesthetically now too. Students and staff are gradually making changes where they can to reflect their pride in the school. They started with planting trees and flowers to let them grow around the area to make it look more beautiful.

"Ever since we were blessed with these facilities, our pupils do not carry water any more from their homes which came from different sources - some safe, while others contaminated. High cases of reported sickness were rampant here with [the] majority of the pupils complaining of headache, stomachache and general body weakness," said Teacher Mrs. Sarah Oyiera Okech.

"Today, we proudly say that such cases have drastically reduced due to the fact that we have our own water point which we closely monitor to ensure that it is always in good condition. We thank the donors for helping us have separate latrines for boys and girls which has created order and organization in our school. Handwashing in this school is now part and parcel of our daily exercise, including teachers who now share the facilities with the pupils."

Student Dickson Andafu turns on the rain tank tap next to Teacher Mrs. Sarah Oyiera Okech

One of those pupils, 14-year-old Dickson Andafu, shared how these changes have affected him personally as a learner.

"I come to school every day knowing that I will be spending my time in class learning without being sent out to fetch water from the neighborhood. The water from the tank in our school is good for my health as I always drink it with lots of confidence because the water is safe. Cleanliness is now better because we have water at the school which helps promote daily hygiene practices."