Rehabilitation Project
Luhokho Primary School urgently needs clean and reliable water. Right now, 320 students and teachers walk long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources. The water sources they rely on are a damaged spring and a dirty stream, but both are overcrowded, often dry, and contaminated.
Students spend far too much time collecting unsafe water, which often makes them ill. Students often get sick with illnesses like typhoid and dysentery after drinking it. The long time spent fetching water also means students miss out on learning. Some even skip school because of water-related duties.
Students feel the intense burden of collecting water each day.
"Fetching water is one of the hardest things I have to face every day," lamented 12-year-old Claudia.
Claudia collecting water from the contaminated stream.
"The spring and the stream where we collect water are far from school. It takes almost an hour to go and come back, and sometimes I have to wait in a long queue before I can fill my jerrycan. The path is rough and slippery, especially when it rains, and I have to be careful not to trip and fall, and by the time I get back, I feel exhausted," Claudia continued.
"I am worried because animals drink and even step inside the stream. Sometimes they even relieve themselves in the same water. I know the water is dirty, but we drink it because we have no choice. I am also scared because the riverbank is steep and slippery. I once saw a small child fall and almost drown while fetching water," Claudia sadly recounted.
Claudia leads a group of students walking to the contaminated, overcrowded spring.
"I am small and younger than most people at the water point, and yet they do not let me fetch water quickly. I wait for a long time, even after walking far, and sometimes by the time it is my turn, the water is dirty from people stepping into it. It makes me furious because I know I would be late for school or too tired to concentrate when I get there," she fumed.
The overcrowded spring.
"Honestly, I feel sad and frustrated. I know that fetching water is important, but it makes me miss out on things I love, like studying and playing. Sometimes I cry on the way because I feel it’s not fair that we have to struggle so much just to get water."
"If we had a water point at school, it would change everything. I would feel free, safe, and hopeful for my future."
Amazingly, Claudia can see past her current situation and knows that if her school can gain access to clean water, her future can be brighter.
"If we had a borehole at school, I would not have to walk long distances through dangerous places. I would fetch water quickly and safely within the school compound, and teachers would be nearby to help if anything happened. I would feel protected and confident knowing I don’t have to risk my safety just to get water," Claudia shared.
"If I did not have [to] spend two hours fetching water, I would use that time to read and finish my homework. I would also have time to rest or help my younger siblings with their schoolwork, too. Sometimes I miss playing with my friends or revising for exams. I would be happier and do better in school if I had that extra time," she declared.
"I want to become a teacher one day because I love helping others learn. I want to make my family proud and support my younger siblings. But sometimes I worry that fetching water and missing classes will make it hard for me to achieve my dream," she concluded.
Bringing clean water to the school would help keep students healthy, improve attendance, and create a more conducive learning environment. It would also provide peace of mind and give students like Claudia freedom to be children. Clean water is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for children to grow and succeed.
Steps Toward a Solution
Schools without reliable, on-premises water access often rely on students to fetch and carry water, leading to rationing and uncertainty about water quality. The water is typically poured into a communal storage tank and used by the entire school. With children carrying water from all different sources, it is also impossible for teachers and staff to know exactly where the water comes from and how safe it is to drink.
A new water point will be located on-premises at the school to ensure accessibility, reliability, and safety for students, teachers, and staff while meeting our school coverage goals. Having water available at the school allows children to drink, wash hands, and use sanitation facilities without leaving school grounds, preventing disruptions to lessons and reducing safety risks. A dedicated source increases water availability, reduces reliance on stored water, minimizes rationing, and ensures confidence in the safety of the water. This means staff and students are healthier, and their lessons aren’t disrupted, contributing to a better education!
Our technical experts worked with the school leadership and 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.
