Borehole Well and Hand Pump
Rehabilitation Project
Nyayo Tea Zone Primary School serves 615 learners. They have a hand-dug well that often breaks down or dries up during the dry season, so students must walk to a community spring instead.
Twelve-year-old Abrienehnia is one of them. She spends about two hours a day fetching water. She described the spring:
Abrienehnia.
"The spring is far from our school, and we have to walk there and back carrying heavy jerrycans. When we arrive, we often find many people already collecting water because the spring is shared with the community. We have to wait for our turn, and the muddy, swampy ground makes it difficult to move around safely while filling our containers," Abrienehnia said.
The spring water itself runs clear, but the swampy ground around it is another matter. Abrienehnia described what that means for her: "I worry because we have to stand in muddy, stagnant water to fill our jerrycans. The ground is slippery, so I am always afraid of falling while collecting water. Sometimes I remove my shoes so they do not get soaked, but then I have to walk barefoot in the muddy water, and I worry about getting skin infections or stepping on sharp objects. When I keep my shoes on, I try to step on stones to avoid the stagnant water, but the stones are slippery, and someone can easily lose balance and get hurt."
Abrienehnia navigates the slippery spring to fill her jerrycan.
She continued, "Sometimes our jerrycans touch the dirty water as we fill them, and I worry that the water we carry back to school may become contaminated. When many pupils are fetching water at the same time, it becomes crowded, and moving around safely is even more difficult. I would feel much safer if we had clean water inside our school compound."
The distant, slippery spring.
She wants to feel safe, but the current water situation makes that tricky.
Sharing the spring with the wider community adds its own frustrations. "Sometimes, when many people come to fetch water, adults are given priority, and we have to wait until they finish. This means we spend more time at the spring and miss part of our lessons," she said.
That lost time follows Abrienehnia back into the classroom. "Carrying heavy jerrycans and walking a long distance makes me very tired. When I return to class, I find it difficult to concentrate because I am exhausted. Sometimes, I also miss part of my lessons while fetching water. I believe every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, and fetching water takes away some of that time. I believe I would perform better in my exams if I could stay in class all day," she said.
Students wait to collect water.
Being sent to fetch water carries an emotional weight, too. "I feel sad because I know I will miss my lessons or revision. Carrying a heavy jerrycan makes me tired, and I worry about slipping in the muddy water around the spring. Sometimes, I wish we had enough water at school so that I could stay in class with my friends and concentrate on my studies. Hopefully, my wishes will be fulfilled soon."
Students make the trek to collect water.
We asked what a well at her own school would mean. Abrienehnia didn't hesitate: "If our school had a borehole, I would not have to leave the school compound to fetch water. I would not have to stand in muddy, stagnant water or walk barefoot through the swamp. I would feel safer because I would remain close to my teachers and spend more time learning instead of worrying about getting hurt while collecting water."
She imagines using the time she'd get back on exactly what school is meant for: "I would spend more time learning in class and revising my schoolwork. I would have enough time to complete my homework, participate in games with my friends, and join other school activities. I believe I would perform better in my studies if I did not miss lessons because of fetching water."
And for Abrienehnia, that time matters because of where she hopes it leads: "My plan is to study hard so that I can contribute to the economic development of my community and help improve people's lives."
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.
