Rehabilitation Project
The Emulele Primary School's 277 students and staff struggle to collect sufficient water. They have a few different available water sources—a protected dug well, a rain tank, and surface water students collect from a nearby stream—but none of them are reliable or provide safe water.
"The water users tried to solve their water crisis through [the] construction of a hand-dug [well] that has served them for many years. This hand-dug recently broke down, and it has incurred a lot of costs, causing a hindrance to the school budget. According to a response from the headteacher about the waterpoint, it is faulty, and they have spent a lot of money repairing the dug well from unreliable artisans," shared Field Officer Mitchelle Ijaza.
The insufficient dug-well.
"The collection area is damaged beyond repair, and the hand pump makes disturbing noises when pumping. It is also difficult to pump water. Therefore, it is time-consuming and unreliable. The hand-dug well has not been in operation for the last year due [to] issues of seasonality and frequent breakdowns. The pumping strokes realize little water that is not enough to fill the containers within the shortest time to fulfill water needs in the school. This further causes overcrowding at [the] pump, forcing pupils to source [from] alternative water sources within and outside [of the] school compound."
Students collect water from the stream.
"The surface water is the only reliable source for Emulele Primary in terms of availability, but it is neither clean nor safe. This is a passing stream with contaminated water from upstream due to poor agricultural practices and other human activities, i.e., washing [and] feeding animals directly in the streams and stormwater from roads," said Mitchelle.
The last alternative is to use water from the rain tank, but the amount that can be collected during short rains quickly diminishes and is unsafe to drink.
"The water is only available during rainy seasons and is mostly used to clean the classrooms. The water is not safe for drinking," Mitchelle continued.
Ten-year-old Aisha bears the burden of collecting water every day while she should be learning.
"Fetching water affects my time at school, especially during morning hours, because we are required to clean classrooms and toilets before the classes begin. Fetching water consumes a lot of time because of limited water supply and long queues. Sometimes, I get pushed [to] the back of the queue, especially when Grade 7 and Grade 8 students come to fetch water. They do this saying they are supposed to be in class," said Aisha.
Aisha collects water at the stream.
"During cleaning days, we have to make long queues to fetch water to clean our classrooms and toilets. The water at the hand-dug well is difficult to pump, so most students fetch water at the river outside the school compound. The surface water is far from the school, and the area is bushy and rocky, so it is not safe. The rainwater collection is mostly used for kitchen needs."
Aisha and her fellow students deserve a secure, convenient, and dependable water source, enabling them to focus on their education and build a better future, rather than spending valuable time and energy fetching water.
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.
