January, 2022: Munanga Primary School Borehole Complete!

We are excited to share that Munanga Primary School in Kenya now has access to a new source of safe, clean water thanks to the completion of their new borehole well! Students and staff are already using the well’s flowing water, which will provide them with a reliable source of water for all of their daily needs. 

We installed new latrines and handwashing stations for students, and we trained the school on improved sanitation and hygiene practices, including COVID-19 prevention. These components work together to unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

"My life will change as a pupil at school and neighbor to the school," said Ian Y. "This water will also help us improve our sanitation and eliminate diseases such as typhoid. [I] am going to make improvements in my academic performance."

Ian in front of a group of his peers.

Living near to the school, Ian's family will also benefit from the new clean source of water. "I want also to help my grandmother access clean water," Ian continued. "I will fetch clean water from here and take [it] home for her to cook and use for other purposes."

Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new rain tank on campus.

"This is a game-changer in this school," said Head Teacher Mr. Patrick. "As the Head Teacher, [I] am the happiest man. I will no longer send pupils to get water from unknown sources or [the] river. We have clean water here and I expect my students to perform in their exams."

Mr. Patrick stands at the new borehole.

Looking toward the future, Mr. Patrick shared his hopes for the school and its students. "I have two goals: one is to ensure the hygiene of these pupils has improved. Two is to ensure that they excel in [the] performance of their academics, especially in [the] national examinations."

How We Got the Water Flowing

Parents, staff, and students all played a part in this well’s success. After determining the best site for the well through a hydrogeological survey, we obtained approval and a license through the government to begin drilling the new well.

To prepare for the project, the school helped collect fine sand and water for our artisans to use in making cement. When everything was ready and the students went home from class for the weekend (drilling is a very loud process!), our drill team and staff arrived at the school to begin work.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so when the drill team arrived, they set up a small camp where they could rest and refuel in shifts near the drill rig. The school’s kitchen staff and a few parents helped provide meals for the team, while the school provided a safe place for the artisans’ accommodations and materials. People of all ages came to watch the well’s progress throughout each day.

Curious students watch the drill at work.

Drilling commenced with excitement in the air. As the rig progressed, the team drove down a temporary casing to keep the walls from collapsing. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 90 meters, with water at 2.9 meters.

The team replaced the temporary casing with a permanent version and then bailed out the dirty water at the bottom of the well. They installed the pipes and flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

Yield test.

Following chlorination, we constructed a cement well pad to seal off the well from any ground-level contaminants. The pad includes tiles beneath the drawing area to help protect the cement from the erosive force of the water, and a short drainage channel to carry spilled water away from the pump, preventing standing water at the access point. At the end of the drainage channel, we also dug a soak pit that helps absorb the runoff into the ground, further eliminating stagnant water.

When the well pad was dry, we installed a new stainless steel AfriDev handpump and took a water quality test to send to a government lab. The results came back announcing that this water is safe for drinking!

When the students and teachers arrived back at school, their enthusiasm for this much-anticipated project was overwhelming. We officially handed over the new borehole to the school.

Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. A commissioning ceremony was held by the school administration, who invited the area leaders and representatives from our teams to lead the handing over ceremony. The event was an excellent chance for us to acknowledge the school administration and students as the primary parties entrusted with the tools we have given and remind them of our continued support as they develop. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

VIP Latrines

Boys preparing for their very successful careers in modeling in front of their new latrines.

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, three for the girls and three for the boys. These new latrines have cement floors designed to be easy to use and clean, locking doors for safety and privacy, and vents designed to keep air flowing up and out through the roof. With a rain tank right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

Handwashing Stations

The two handwashing stations were set up during training and handed over to the student health club. These were placed outside of the girls’ and boys’ latrines to encourage handwashing after latrine use. Health club members will teach other students how to wash their hands at the stations properly, make sure the stations are filled with water, and ensure that there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash available.

New Knowledge

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff, who ensured that the training date would be convenient for pupils and teachers. When the training day arrived, facilitators Nelly, Olivia, and Amos deployed to the site to lead the event. 23 students attended the training, which we held on school grounds. Interestingly enough, all of the students in the school wanted to attend the training, but we had to choose only a few due to COVID gathering restrictions.

We focused on COVID-19 prevention, transmission, and symptoms while also covering several other topics. These included personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, and the ten steps of handwashing; environmental hygiene; child rights; operation and maintenance of the rain tank, latrines, and handwashing stations; and leadership and governance. During the latter, the students elected their peers to lead their newly formed student health club.

The club will be significantly involved in the water, sanitation, and hygiene project management at school. It will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community. We involved stretches, dances, and physical activities between each topic to keep the pupils’ energy up and their minds active. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

"I have learned a lot about soap making and drilling," said Ian. "[I] am going to teach [my grandmother] this valuable lesson to change our lifestyle. We will make our own soap and sell it. This will also help us reduce the cost of buying soap."

The pupils at Munanga Primary School were incredibly engaged in the training. During the section of the training on borehole maintenance (which is usually not a fan favorite amongst our younger audiences for some reason), students all answered excellently on how to take the best care of their well so it lasts for generations of students to come. When we asked for a student representative to lead the well's future maintenance efforts, every student at the training volunteered.

Another favorite topic was soap-making. While students all took turns stirring the soap, they sang songs to pass the time, which left everyone smiling.

"This training was valuable to me, especially the part of soap making," said Shazine N. "I [am] going to make my own soap and also teach my mother how to make it. We will use the soap and sell [it]."

Shazine stirs the soap made during the training.

"[We] will employ what you have taught us, like mask-making," Shazine concluded. "We will embrace washing our hands with the soap you have made for us."

When an issue arises concerning the well, the students and teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure the water point works appropriately. However, if the issue is beyond their capabilities, they can contact our field officers to assist them. Also, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our ongoing monitoring and maintenance program.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

November, 2021: Munanga Primary School Well Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Munanga Primary 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 this 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!