Borehole Well and Hand Pump
Rehabilitation Project
Lavenda is thirteen years old, a pupil at Gemeni Salvation Army Primary School in Western Kenya — one of 114 girls among the 222 students who study there. But before Lavenda can settle into a school day, there's often an errand standing in the way: fetching water for the school.
Lavenda.
Each trip costs her about thirty minutes, and almost all of that time disappears into the queue. "The time required to fetch water is significantly extended by long queues of students and community members at the water source, as everyone is competing to collect their water as quickly as possible," she said. As one of the youngest people waiting, she's often the last to be served. "When I go to collect water, the crowding often leads to me being overlooked as a pupil, as adults frequently cut ahead of me in line, forcing me to wait until they have finished," Lavenda explained. "The water point is often dominated by adults, and as a younger child, I am frequently pushed to the back of the queue and denied access to water until the adults have finished."
Students wait in tedious lines after traveling to the spring.
Getting there is no easier than waiting once she arrives. The path to the water source crosses steep, rocky, uneven ground that turns slippery underfoot, adding real risk to an already long errand. By the time Lavenda makes it back to class, she's running on empty. "The water source often lacks sufficient supply, which makes me feel physically drained," she said. "When I return to class, I struggle to concentrate on my lessons because I am exhausted from the journey and worried about the lack of water at home."
Traveling back to school.
That exhaustion follows her into her schoolwork. "Fetching water makes me feel exhausted, which interferes with my ability to focus on my studies and attend lessons regularly," Lavenda said. "This time-consuming task prevents me from following my school schedule, ultimately leading to poor performance in my exams." She's candid about how she feels each time she's sent: "Fetching water is a physically draining task that leaves me feeling exhausted and disinterested in my schoolwork. I particularly dislike being sent to collect water, especially when the source is located a long distance from the school."
Filling a water station.
Asked what she would do with the time fetching water takes from her, Lavenda talked about the things she's already trying to make room for. "As a pupil, I am able to manage my time effectively to ensure that all my school assignments are completed on schedule," she said. "Additionally, I participate in music training, which allows me to practice and develop my talents."
Despite everything a single water source demands of her days, Lavenda is looking well past them. Asked about her plans for the future, she didn't hesitate: "I plan to become a public health officer to support my community by improving hygiene and sanitation standards and ensuring that food safety are properly followed."
The project proposed for Gemeni Salvation Army Primary School would change what Lavenda's days look like. A new well would give the school a reliable water source within its own compound — no more queuing behind adults at a source outside school grounds, no more slippery, rocky walk to fetch it. A contractor will also install ventilated improved pit latrines, with two doors for staff and four for the school's male students, along with handwashing stations to support hygiene across the campus. For Lavenda, it means getting back the thirty minutes — and the concentration, and the energy — that the walk for water currently takes from her.
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.
