Rehabilitation Project
This project is part of Bridge Water Project's program in Western Kenya. What follows is direct from them:
BACKGROUND
The proposed Laboret Girls Primary school is a mixed day and boarding school started in the year 1995 by African Inland Church Mission with an aim of eradicating illiteracy in the area where the church serves and also to curb the problem of high rate of young girls dropping out of school due to far distances covered while going too far end of primary schools looking for Basic Education. However, due to low girl’s enrollment the school management decided to admit young boys in lower primary since they also experience long distances while going to seek education elsewhere.
A.I.C Laboret girl’s primary school is on the hilly area and lies in a 6 Acres piece of land with a provision of conducive learning environment for a girl child. However, among many challenges the school has, access to reliable and quality water supply is a biggest problem that the school is facing and as a result lack of quality water has affected the enrollment of targeted girl child.
Therefore, the school management of A.I.C Laboret girls boarding primary sought the support of well wishers to intervene in the lack of water supply problem in school and provide a lasting solution through drilling of a borehole.
CURRENT WATER SOURCE
Currently the school gets water from the neighboring AIC Laboret Boys high school which pumps its water from a Dam constructed in the forest, so many dropped leaves covers the water surface forming a green colouring matter, human activities such as clothes washing, bathing etc contaminates the water, hence the water is not treated before use. Sometimes when the area experiences power interruption the Laboret Boys high school can’t allow the little reserved water to flow towards primary section since they fear it might not be enough to sustain them till when the power will be back. There’s surveillance of water borne diseases i.e. Typhoid. Amoebae, diarrhea among both primary pupils and boy’s high school. During rainy season the school harvests water from the roofs in 2000 and 500 litres UPVC tank which is not enough for their domestic use.
POPULATION
The school population has an enrollment of 220 girls, 60 boys, 64 ECD pupils with 11 teachers, 3 non-teaching staff total population is 355 people.
HYGIENE & SANITATION
The school has 8 pit latrines 4 for girls, 2 for boys and 2 for teachers, which are washed daily.
Permanent classrooms and dormitories are washed ones per week that is during the weekend. The school kitchen is well ventilated with modern stoves though water storage facilities not in hygiene status since they are not covered to ensure safety for the stored water. Outside kitchen there is dish rack, the cloth lines are also available near to the dormitories. There’s composite pit where litters are dumped. However, no hand washing stations either outside toilets or staffroom
ASSESSING THE NEED
There is need to drill a borehole for Laboret girls primary school to enable pupils access clean and quality water for their domestic use that will also improve hygiene and sanitation standards. With a reliable quality water supply available in school, water borne diseases will be reduced also contribute to enrollment increase of pupils.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
If the proposed well is drilled, the Laboret Girls primary school and Laboret boys high school will be the beneficiaries.
WATER COMMITTEE
The school management committee is organized in that has selected amongst themselves a water committee that will oversee the operations and maintenance of the water point to ensure its sustainability. Prior to the implementation of the proposed water project, pupils, teachers and management will be trained by BWP staff on matters related to hygiene and sanitation.
