Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 595 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jul 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

At the Bondeni Primary School, the 572 students and 23 staff members face an uphill battle every day to find clean and safe water. Their rainwater tank is insufficient, and the only other option is a contaminated stream off campus. They risk their health and sacrifice their education daily.

Students carrying heavy water cans uphill back to school.

The Bondeni School has grown significantly since it first opened, as has their water need. The administration has tried to solve its water crisis, reaching out for help but to no avail. The water available to the students and staff from the rainwater tank and the stream far too regularly contributes to waterborne illnesses, such as typhoid. Getting sick consistently takes away precious time and resources, cutting into their future possibilities.

Students in class.

"Students waste a lot of time at the water points due to overcrowding instead of utilizing this time to focus on their studies. Students also scramble to fetch water and this could lead to potential injuries. The school is located in a slum; hence, there is much pollution of the stream, making it unsafe for use," shared Field Officer Rachel Obura.

Young students collect contaminated water from the stream.

The only way to avoid the repercussions of contaminated water is to source their water from home, which is also challenging and arduous.

Rebecca, 11, is all too familiar with the consequences of water-related illnesses, not only on her health but also on other aspects of her life.

Rebecca.

"The stream water should not be consumed because it has been exposed to various contaminants, making it unsafe for human consumption and potentially posing health risks," she said.

"I suffered from low appetite, which left me feeling weak and unable to eat. Additionally, I experienced stomach pains, fever, and diarrhea, which significantly impacted my overall health," Rebecca shared.

"I had to stay at home for nearly two weeks because I was feeling weak and in pain, making it difficult to focus on my schoolwork. I prioritized my recovery before returning to school to ensure I could fully concentrate and perform at my best," she continued.

When she gets sick, Rebecca knows that her parents don't have the resources to get her medical attention, so each bout of illness has long-term effects.

"My parents didn't have the means to take me to the hospital or buy medication; they did their best by managing my symptoms. They gave me warm salty water at short intervals to help alleviate my diarrhea and stomachache," Rebecca shared.

But Rebecca is resourceful. She has figured out a system to avoid as many contaminants as possible.

"I rarely get sick [now] because I always bring my own drinking water from home. We make sure it's safe to drink by boiling it beforehand. I prefer not to drink water from the school's rainwater tank because it's never cleaned, and I don't trust its quality," she shared.

"When I spend a lot of time getting water, I can't focus on my studies. Because of this, I struggle to make up for the lost time, and as a result, I sometimes fail exams," Rebecca said.

Students are on the hunt for water instead of being in class.

The school's water crisis consumes so much time and energy that it leaves little time for education or play, which are crucial to healthy development.

As resourceful as Rebecca is, the Bondeni Primary School needs a well on campus to provide easy access to safe water. Implementing a well can give students like Rebecca time to attend class and do their homework consistently. Teachers can provide their students with a better education instead of using time on water collection and related illnesses.

Students in class.

Rebecca has been thinking about her future however, unlike most kids her age, her goal is to solve the school's water crisis.

"I have several plans for the future; however, the one that takes precedence is creating a waterpoint that will serve my community, such that they won't have to travel long distances in search of clean, safe drinking water," she shared.

Students collect water from the rainwater tank, where the water is unsafe to consume.

"Clean and safe water is essential in any given community. As a community, we need to strive to have clean and safe water for drinking. Access to clean and safe water keeps water-related illnesses away," Rebecca concluded.

Steps Toward a Solution

Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.

Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!

Handwashing Stations
Alongside each water source, we install two gravity-fed handwashing stations, enabling everyone at the school to wash their hands. Handwashing is crucial for preventing water-related illnesses within the school and community. Student “health clubs” maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap, which we often teach them how to make.

Latrines
We will construct two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks designed to prevent fecal disease transmission. Each latrine features a cement floor, making it easy to use and clean regularly. Three stalls will serve the girls, and three will serve the boys.

School Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each school's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point.

To ensure a lasting impact, we support forming a student health club composed of elected student representatives and a teacher. These clubs promote hygiene practices schoolwide and keep handwashing stations well-stocked. This student-led model encourages a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the school and the surrounding community.

Project Updates


July, 2025: Bondeni Primary School Well Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Bondeni Primary School in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Clean flowing water is already making a difference in the lives of the students and staff. This will provide them with a reliable water source for their daily needs.

We installed new latrines and handwashing stations, then trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

"Our previous water source was a river. This water source was not trusted at all because it was connected to a sewer line. There are a few instances where I had trouble with my stomach, and on going home, my parents had to take me to [the] hospital, where I was treated for typhoid. This meant fourteen days of taking the medication, which cost my parents a lot of money," said 13-year-old Snaider.

Snaider.

"I am confident that with this new water source, I will be able to be in class and attend all my lessons and be able to finish the syllabus on time. This will give me time for revision and set me at a better place to compete with other learners from my school and even outside our school. I hope to improve on my grades now that there will be no wastage of time due to going for water," Snaider continued.

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

Mr. Okwayo.

"Initially, before the construction of this waterpoint, the learners would have to bring water from home or fetch some from the river that is located in a forest behind the school. This meant that they had to forego time in class in order to fetch water and be manned because the route to the river is not safe at all; villagers use the same river for their water uses. This meant time wastage both for the learners and the teachers. I hope [that] now, with having this water source within the school compound, this will be able to solve both the need for water and also the time that would be wasted during class hours," shared 32-year-old teacher Festus Okwayo.

How We Got the Water Flowing

The first step was to conduct a hydrogeological survey to determine the the best site for the school's well. Once we found the perfect spot, the team obtained approval from the government to begin drilling.

Parents, staff, and students all contributed to this well’s success, right from the start. To prepare for the well, 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 started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 85 meters with a final static water level of 13 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the 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 optimum depth, the team inserted permanent casing, 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.

We constructed a cement well pad to seal it off from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles were installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water. We included a short drainage channel and a soak pit to prevent standing water.

When the well pad was cured, we installed a new stainless steel hand pump and sampled the water for a quality test. The results showed this water was safe for drinking!
We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the school’s students and teachers.

Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. The event was an excellent chance to acknowledge the school administration and students, and remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

VIP Latrines


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. They have locking doors for safety and privacy, as well as vents to keep air flowing out through the roof. With a well right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

Handwashing Stations


We set up two handwashing stations outside the latrines. Student 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 soap available.

School Education

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff. When the training day arrived, facilitators Patience Njeri and Rose Serete deployed to the site to lead the event. 18 students and teachers attended the training.


We emphasized personal, menstrual, oral, and environmental hygiene. Proper water handling, soap-making, the ten steps of handwashing, and the importance of primary health care were discussed. We covered disease prevention, teen pregnancy, and child rights. Waterpoint, latrine, and handwashing station operation and maintenance, as well as leadership and governance were discussed. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

The students elected 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.

Facilitator Patience Njeri shared about the training: "Menstrual hygiene was on top of the list. At the start of the conversation, the learners were a bit shy of sharing, but after further understanding of the need to destigmatize the myths surrounding the topic, the learners actively shared their experiences."

She continued: Chantel, one of the participants, shared her experience, "The first time I got my period, I was in school, and I did not have a pad to use. This was very embarrassing, though I had little knowledge on what to do I immediately went to one of the female teachers, who guided me on what to do. I am very grateful to her!"

Hannington, 14.

"The training has definitely impacted how I do things moving forward. I can no longer just do things the same way. I now know there's [a] need for segregation of different wastes before throwing them out, there's [a] need for recycling in order to conserve the environment. Also, I no longer have to be ashamed about talking on issues like menstrual hygiene, it is a girl's thing, but it is important for me to be well equipped with knowledge."

Thank you for making all of this possible!




May, 2025: Exciting Progress at Bondeni Primary School!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Rebecca and the entire Bondeni Primary School. Construction has begun on the well project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water at Bondeni Primary School!




Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


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