Emachembe Primary School 2

June, 2024: Emachembe Primary School Borehole Well Complete!

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

We also installed new latrines and handwashing stations and trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

"I will no longer get tired of carrying water from a distant water point as we will be getting water from within. This will help us concentrate on learning rather than going outside the school every time on the busy road looking for water," said 12-year-old Godsvilla.

Godsvilla.

"It will help me learn in a clean environment because cleanliness will be done on [a] regular basis using the readily available water in school as opposed to before. More so, I will not be required to carry water every morning when coming to school. Thus, I will have enough energy and [a] fresh mind to concentrate on my academics and achieve great results," he continued.

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

Senior teacher Rose Wakamira, 52, shared, "Having the waterpoint close to the students and staff will curb the challenge of time wastage and this will help run the school program more effectively. For instance, the lunch program will be achieved with ease. Besides that, it will uplift sanitation and hygiene standards in [the] school and this will help to shun the high rate of absenteeism, as students will not be exposed to waterborne ailments that used to make them stay at home."

Rose Wakamira.

She was eager to share their development plans, "The school has a junior secondary school in [the] primary section [that] is focused on [a] competence-based curriculum (CBC) system. Their lessons are more practical. So, water from the water source will help them in agriculture and practical lessons, where water will not only be needed for irrigating crops but also, as a specimen in science subjects. They will be able to do their practicals even during the dry spell because of [the] availability of water."

Tree nursery.

How We Got the Water Flowing

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

To prepare, the school collected fine sand and water for cement-making. When everything was ready, our drill team and staff arrived at the school to begin work.

Drilling begins!

Drilling commenced with excitement in the air. The team drove down a temporary casing to keep the walls from collapsing as the rig progressed. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 100 meters with a final static water level of 16 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the drill team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel. The school’s kitchen staff and parents helped provide meals for the team, while the school provided a safe place for the artisans’ accommodations and materials.

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

Flushing the well.

After water treatment, we constructed a cement well pad to seal off the well from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles are installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water.

We also included a short drainage channel to carry spilled water away from the pump and prevent standing water. A soak pit absorbs runoff at the end of the drainage channel, further eliminating any stagnant water.

When the well pad was dry, we installed a new stainless steel AfriDev handpump and sampled the water for a quality test. The results showed this water was safe for drinking!

We officially handed over the new borehole to the school’s students and teachers.

Handing over the well.

Facilitator Jonathan Mutai detailed the joyous occasion! "The handing over ceremony was graced by the Water Resources Management Authority, Western Kenya Regional Manager. Students had lined up next to the school entrance singing while clapping hands as they welcomed the guests. Guests were led to the head teacher's office to sign [the] visitor book. Thereafter, they were directed to the water point that had been tied with ribbons to signify [the] official opening exercise that was to take place. A church leader prayed before the chief guest cut the ribbon using a pair of scissors to open the borehole for use. Thereafter the guests planted trees for environmental conservation."

Celebrating the new water source!

"Students were overwhelmed with joy, which led to uncontrollable cheers that filled the area around the school compound. When the ribbon was cut, and clean water flew from the borehole through the sprout, students scrambled to feel the first flow of water by touching and drinking it. But they were then cautioned against scrambling for water, and they were shown how to draw water in an orderly manner," he continued.

VIP Latrines

Complete latrine.

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

Handwashing Stations

Students use the new handwashing station.

We set up two handwashing stations outside the latrines and handed them over to the newly formed student health club. Health club members will teach other students how to wash their hands at the stations properly, fill the stations with water, and ensure that there is always a cleaning agent 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, Wilson Kipchoge and Jonathan Mutai deployed to the site to lead the event. 24 students and teachers attended the training.

Training begins!

We focused on personal, menstrual, oral, and environmental hygiene; proper water handling; soap-making and the ten steps of handwashing; the importance of primary health care, the prevention of teen pregnancy and COVID-19; child rights; the operation and maintenance of the pump, well, 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 student health club members will encourage good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

One of the topics that was particularly eye-opening for students and staff was solar water treatment. Facilitator Jonathan Mutai said, "While tackling this topic, it emerged that most learners were not aware of the solar disinfection method of water treatment. One learner wanted to know what could be done to make water safe for use. The facilitator asked them to sieve it before putting it under the sun because this method helps to kill any bacteria that might have been on [the] water. They were discouraged from depending on sieving alone because it can't kill micro-organisms."

We asked 14-year-old Jennifer how this new knowledge will impact her life. She said, "I now believe [I have] learned, and now believe that we can use locally available materials within our reach to improve sanitation and hygiene standards, not only in school but also back at our homes. Like [the] construction of leaky tins or tippy taps using used containers is something we can easily do."

Jennifer (right) learns the proper handwashing techniques.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. 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 their local field officers to assist them.

Also, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program. We walk with each community, problem-solving together when they face challenges with functionality, seasonality, or water quality. Together, all these components help us strive for enduring access to reliable, clean, and safe water for this community.

With your contribution, one more piece has been added to a large puzzle of water projects. In Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, we’re working toward complete coverage. That means reliable, maintained water sources within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. With this in mind, search through our upcoming projects to see which community you can help next!

Thank you for making all of this possible!

April, 2024: Emachembe Primary School New Well Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Emachembe Primary School costs students time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!