Injira Secondary School

Injira Secondary School just opened its doors to students, but it's already struggling to meet their needs. There aren't enough facilities - students are sharing classrooms, latrines, and water with the neighboring primary school.

A normal day begins very early in the morning at 6:30am students start arriving. They clean up classrooms before morning study hall begins. Once they've met to raise the flag and listen to announcements, they sit for normal classes until 4:30pm.

Water

There is a small plastic tank of about 10,000 liters that collects rainwater from the classroom roof. This quantity does not last long and students must look elsewhere for water.

The nearby primary school has a well on which the secondary section still depends. Since there are hundreds of students relying on this one pump to supply water, fights often break out. Who was there first? Whose water source is it in the first place?

The young students demand first in line with the rationale that it’s their water source, so the older students spend a lot of time waiting at the end of the line. While the schools can do their best to run on different schedules, there are often squabbles, and sometimes the secondary students are restricted from the water they need altogether.

Sanitation

There are three latrines at the secondary school, all of which have been set aside for the girls. The male students have to walk back to the primary school and share with the younger students. There are no hand-washing stations.

Principal Stanley Lilumbi admitted that his "school is in a very pathetic state for the boys, who do not have latrines that they can use. Thus, they use the primary section. Those are in poor working condition. The school has in fact been given a closure notice because the boys don't have their own sanitation facilities."

Here's what we're going to do about it:

Training

Training will be held for two days. The facilitator will use PHAST (participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation), ABCD (asset-based community development), CTC (child to child), lectures, group discussions, and handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good practices within the school. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school.

Hand-Washing Stations

This CTC club will oversee the new facilities, such as hand-washing stations, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school, and the club will fill them with water on a daily basis and make sure there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.

VIP Latrines

Two triple-door latrines will be constructed with local materials that the school will help gather. And with a new source of water on school grounds, students and staff should have enough to keep these new latrines clean.

Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will help alleviate the water crisis at this school. The school will also help gather the needed materials such as sand, rocks, and water from the spring for mixing cement. Once finished, this tank can begin catching rainfall that will be used by the school’s students and staff.

We and the school strongly believe that with this assistance, standards will significantly improve. These higher standards will translate to better academic performance!

This project is a part of our shared program with Western Water And Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO). Our team is pleased to provide the reports for this project (formatted and edited for readability) thanks to the hard work of our friends in Kenya.

Project Updates

September, 2019: Giving Update: Injira Secondary School

A year ago, your generous donation helped Injira Secondary School in Kenya access clean water.

There’s an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water at Injira Secondary School. Month after month, their giving supports ongoing sustainability programs that help this school maintain access to safe, reliable water. Read more…

July, 2018: Injira Secondary School Project Complete

A new rainwater catchment system was built! Injira Secondary School in Kenya now has a new source of safe, clean water thanks to your support. Handwashing stations were installed so that students can clean up after using their new latrines, and students and staff have received training in sanitation and hygiene.

New Knowledge

We started planning for hygiene and sanitation training right away. The school administration provided us with potential dates when training could supplement their regular academic schedule. Principal Mwinami was very cooperative and prepared the students in advance by recruiting students from forms one, two and three.

Upon entering the school, we were ushered into the main office, signed the visitors' book then went to the classroom where the training was to be done. We were greeted by 37 participants!

It was a cold morning because of heavy rains the previous nights. The students were feeling pretty down, but thanks to the help of energizer activities they became much more engaged. It was dark in the classroom since the school doesn't have electricity.

A number of topics were covered, including personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, and handwashing with soap as a barrier from germs; operation and maintenance of the new facilities, with each person understanding their role for long-lasting clean water and good health. The new child to child (CTC) health club will be greatly involved in project management and will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

Students were very interested in learning how to take good care of the water tank. They asked tons of questions so they could be clear on every detail. They couldn't believe that a person could get into the tank to clean it out. They had to see it to believe it; one of our artisans was still there and demonstrated going in and out of the dome hatch for them. They were amazed at how someone who had such a large body could get in there and promised to clean it themselves at least once every quarter.

"I am so glad and very much privileged to have attended the training. I have learned a lot, which has changed my perspective on health matters. I used to ignore and at times overlook things," 16-year-old Fiona Mitchel said.

"For example, I only drank water when I felt very thirsty, brushing teeth is one thing I did not do, and I even did not know someone can be fit and healthy with just a disciplined lifestyle."

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. All of these new latrines have cement floors that are easy to use and clean. And with a rainwater catchment tank, there should be enough water to keep them clean all the time.

The soil in this area was very loose, so we had to take extra precautions when digging the pit and establishing a good foundation. The extra hardware and solid foundation will prevent potential issues.

"I am so glad that our school was chosen to be given the project," 17-year-old Eunice Mmbaya said.

"We have been suffering for long struggling to share facilities with the primary section, especially the latrines. It was so pathetic for the latrines are very dirty and most of the time we could find the toilets a no-go zone. As a school, we are so appreciative and we promise to take good care of the facilities."

Handwashing Stations

Pupils can now enjoy washing their hands with soap thanks to the two handwashing stations that were delivered to their school. Before, there was nowhere to wash hands. These new handwashing opportunities will help reduce cases of hygiene-related illness. The training on hygiene has motivated these students to share what they’ve learned both with their peers at school and families at home.

Handwashing stations were delivered in time for training demonstrations

Rainwater Catchment Tank

Construction for this 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank was successful!

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, women cooked meals for the artisans, and the school provided accommodations for the artisans during their work. Local men and women helped our artisans with their manual labor, too.

Stones for laying the tank foundation

The process officially began with our staff and school administration looking around the school compound to try and determine the best location for a new rainwater catchment tank. This needed to be the best site with good, clean roofing to catch the rainwater.

Then, we cleared the site: excavating the soil within the required measurements to make level ground for the tank foundation. The foundation was cast by laying stones on a level ground and then reinforcing it using steel, concrete and waterproof cement.

Field Officer Jemmimah Khasoha checking that work is up to standards

Both the drawing pipe as well as the washout pipe were affixed as the foundation was lain. The wall was built with ferro-cement techniques through six layers. The inner wall was plastered while rough casting was done on the outer part.

Finally, the catchment area was dug, plastered, and a staircase installed.

Dome construction could begin after the superstructure had been given enough time to settle. The manhole cover was fitted, inlet pipes were connected to the roof gutters, inlet screens, ventilation pipes (breathers) and overflow pipes were all done to standard.

Once finished, the tank was given three to four weeks to undergo complete curing before it was cleaned and handed over to Injira Secondary School, though we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program.

"With plenty of water in school and the beautiful toilets you have constructed for us, I now believe in myself that at the end of the year I will be able to perform well in my studies. The long distance I used to go for water and even wait in lines is no more," Fiona Mitchel said.

"Now, I will concentrate more on books."

April, 2018: Injira Secondary School Project Underway

A severe clean water shortage at Injira Secondary School drains students’ time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know your school through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!