Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 452 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - May 2018

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 12/10/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Esibeye Secondary School was founded in 2007 by a church that donated its land. The school now has an enrollment of 426 students who are taught by 18 teachers. The school also employs eight support staff.

Students get up very early in the morning to get ready and walk to school. Their lessons begin with study hall at 7am. With a break for announcements and lunch, students finally end the day with games. This school is located in a very quiet area with a fair road network that makes accessibility easier.

Water

All the school has for water is a 5,000-liter plastic tank. This can catch rainwater, but it is not nearly enough for the growing student and teacher population.

When the tank hasn't received fresh rain, it runs dry quickly. Students must go out into the community to bring back enough water to keep things running. Water fetched by students is used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Students report that they most often walk to a particular protected spring in the community. However, administration is concerned that water could be contaminated by the time the it is carried back to school.

This coupled with poor hygiene and sanitation could be why typhoid and cholera keep students out of school.

Sanitation

The latrines for students filled up entirely and had to be torn down. Students are now walking to the nearby primary students to share their latrines.

There are still useable latrines remaining for teachers and other staff. The school has two hand-washing stations they built on their own, which are used by both teachers and students. However, they don't have any soap.

Principal Fredrick Kubai said, "Our school is now at a very critical moment, especially after our only eight doors of latrines were collapsed, forcing our students to cross over to the primary section as the only option. Looking at the population of my 426 students, I am worried if the primary section will be able to accommodate this number given that they have also a higher population of about 700 pupils compared to the available facilities. I thank God that you people have come at the time when we really need support!"

Training

Training will be held for two days. The facilitator will use PHAST (participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation), ABCD (asset-based community development), CTC (child to child), lectures, group discussions, and handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good practices within the school. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school.

Hand-Washing Stations

This CTC club will oversee the new facilities, such as hand-washing stations, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school, and the club will fill them with water on a daily basis and make sure there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.

VIP Latrines

Two triple-door latrines will be constructed with local materials that the school will help gather. Three doors will serve the girls while the other three serve the boys. And with a new source of water on school grounds, students and staff should have enough to keep these new latrines clean.

Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will help alleviate the water crisis at this school. The school will also help gather the needed materials such as sand, rocks, and water from the spring for mixing cement. Once finished, this tank can begin catching rainfall that will be used by the school’s students and staff. Students will no longer have their school days interrupted for fetching water.

There will be enough clean water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. We and the school strongly believe that with this assistance, standards will significantly improve. These higher standards will translate to better academic performance!


This project is a part of our shared program with Western Water And Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO). Our team is pleased to provide the reports for this project (edited for readability) thanks to the hard work of our friends in Kenya.

Project Updates


July, 2019: Giving Update: Esibeye Secondary School

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to build a rainwater tank for Esibeye Secondary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to <a href="https://thewaterproject.org/waterpromise">The Water Promise</a> allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories. <a href="https://thewaterproject.org/community/projects/kenya/rainwater-catchment-wash-project-18017#interest_story"><em>Read more…</em></a>




May, 2018: Esibeye Secondary School Project Complete

Esibeye Secondary School in Kenya now has a new source of safe, clean water thanks to your generous donation. A new rainwater catchment system was been built, and there are now six new latrines in use. Two hand-washing stations were installed, and students received training in sanitation and hygiene.

New Knowledge

We kept in constant communication with Principal Fredrick Kubai to plan hygiene and sanitation training for students and staff. He worked with teachers to select student leaders from each grade. Sessions were held in the school laboratory, where students were comfortable out of the humid weather that promised rain.

We taught that hygiene entails personal hygiene, water and food hygiene, and environmental hygiene. Attention needs to be given to each facet of hygiene to enjoy a healthy life.

We covered topics including but not limited to:

– Water pollution and water treatment

– Health starts with a clean self and clean environment

– Group dynamics, leadership, and governance

– Forming an effective CTC (child to child) club

– Hand-washing

Demonstrations were used for hand-washing, tooth-brushing, and many other topics. We facilitated group discussions and presentations, and students took part in role-plays. The students also received handouts to help them teach hygiene and sanitation to their peers.

The CTC club includes both students and teachers who want to take responsibility for spreading the message of good health and hygiene among their peers. They are also responsible for managing hand-washing stations, cleaning latrines, and keeping the school environment tidy. A water user committee was formed by parents and school administration, which is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the new facilities.

These trained students are now part of the school CTC club.

The students enjoyed hands-on activities the most, like demonstrations on how to take care of the tank and latrines, and how to thoroughly wash hands. Even the teachers in attendance admitted they learned something new. Teacher Elphas Ayoro said, "Today, I have learned how to properly wash hands with soap, and the importance of caring for our facilities. With the knowledge I've acquired, I can teach my fellow teachers..."

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. All of these latrines are easy to use and clean. And with a rainwater catchment tank, there should be enough water to keep them clean all the time.

Hand-Washing Stations

The two hand-washing stations were delivered to school and handed over to the CTC club. These were placed outside of the boys’ and girls’ latrines to encourage hand-washing after latrine use. CTC club members teach other students how to properly wash their hands at the stations, and make sure there is always soap or ash available. Now the school has the stations they need, and they have the water to fill them.

Rainwater Catchment Tank

Construction for this 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank was successful!

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, women cooked meals for the artisans, and the school provided accommodations for the artisans during their work. Local men and women helped our artisans with their manual labor, too.

The process officially began with our staff and school administration looking around the school compound to try and determine the best location for a new rainwater catchment tank. This needed to be the best site with good, clean roofing to catch the rainwater.

Then, we cleared the site: excavating the soil within the required measurements to make level ground for the tank foundation. The foundation was cast by laying hardcore on a level ground and then reinforcing it using steel, concrete and waterproof cement.

Both the drawing pipe as well as the washout pipe were affixed as the foundation was lain. The wall was built with ferro-cement techniques through six layers. The inner wall was plastered while rough casting was done on the outer part. Finally, the catchment area was dug, plastered, and a staircase installed.

Dome construction could begin after the superstructure had been given enough time to settle. The manhole cover was fitted, inlet pipes were connected to the roof gutters, inlet screens, ventilation pipes (breathers) and overflow pipes were all done to standards.

People worked on the initial dome structuring before it was attached to the top of the tank.

Once finished, the tank was given three to four weeks to undergo complete curing before it was cleaned and handed over to Esibeye Secondary School. There were smiles all around as students and staff witnessed water coming from the tap for the first time! Principal Kubai was there to join them, speaking on their behalf: "This safe and reliable source came at the very time when we greatly needed it the most. With this kind of source, water problems are expected to be a thing of the past!"




January, 2018: Esibeye Secondary School

Esibeye Secondary School in Kenya has begun building a new source of safe, clean water because of your generous donation. A rainwater catchment tank and new latrines are being constructed, hand-washing stations provided, and the school is being trained on proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Imagine the impact this will have on these students! Thank you for noticing the need here, and we’ll keep you posted as the work continues.




Project Photos


Project Type

For a rainwater collection system, we build gutters around a building with good, clean roofing to channel rain where we want it. From there, the water falls through a filtered inlet pipe into a high-capacity storage tank, the size of which is based on population and average rainfall patterns. In the tank, water can be stored for months, where it is easily treated and accessed. Learn more here!


Giving Update: Esibeye Secondary School

July, 2019

A year ago, you funded a rainwater tank at Esibeye Secondary School in Kenya – creating a life-changing moment for Rumona Minicah. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Esibeye Secondary School.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Esibeye Secondary School maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

On our recent visit to Esibeye Secondary School, we saw how a lot of things have changed since we first installed their rain tank and sanitation projects a little over a year ago.

First, you notice how the school has now managed to control the movement of students outside the school building - at least until evening when they are allowed to go back to their parents of course! This has enabled the school to keep proper records and to monitor class attendance for all students. Before the WaSH projects, some students would disappear into the bush when sent to fetch water.

The students here also have rejuvenated morale to study because the shameful act of carrying water to school has been cut down due to the tank's capacity to store water.

For 19-year-old student Rumona Minicah, the WaSH projects have changed the very nature of her school days.

"There is reduced time wastage as sufficient water in school has made it easy to clean classrooms, latrines, offices, the laboratory, and library," Rumona said.

"Students now feel proud and confident because they do not carry water to school from home. Instead, they get drinking water from the tank and so they have become more punctual to attend lessons."

Field Officer Erick interviews Rumona

Rumona and Erick at the tank

Deputy Principal Omulo Owich was happy to greet us and share what it has been like this past year living with the water and sanitation improvements at his school.

"The tank is the largest [water] storage container the school has. It serves [us] well, even during the dry spell of February and January as it never went dry. Students no longer carry drinking water from home and kitchen staff have enough water to prepare food and wash utensils," he said.

Deputy Principal Omulo Owich

"Girls now take less time going to the latrines after the assemblies and during breaks. The latrines and water tank do help meeting the needs of large gatherings such as during sports or internal games, parents' meetings, and prayer days. Students do not carry water from home the way they used to do before and there are no longer quarrels with neighbors over water at the spring or fights among students."

Erick and Omulo

Rumona and Omulo

"[Additionally], the school no longer buys water from vendors who used to bring dirty and contaminated water that used to cause stomachaches sometimes. Indecent cases that were experienced when students used to be sent to the spring have now ceased. Thus, indecent relationships in the bushes have also been addressed by [the] presence of [the] water tank in the school."

"Boys no longer engage in illicit activities like alcoholism and smoking, which some used to engage in by taking advantage of the time they could be sent to the spring for water."

Erick, Rumona, Omulo


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Esibeye Secondary School maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Esibeye Secondary School – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.


Contributors

Glenn-Winstead Fund
Coops For A Cause
GFWC Worthington Woman's Club
MOSAICOS After School Program
David and Kristi Campbell
Ian Ingram's family
Merry Christmas Calynn. Love Uncle Chip.
Chirst Outreach Church Women of Faith
Teespring IIC
Gift in Honor of Beth Wilkins
134 individual donor(s)