Nanganda Primary School

January, 2020: Nanganda Primary School Project Complete!

Nanganda Primary School in Kenya now has access to a new source of safe, clean water thanks to the completion of their rain tank, which has the ability to collect 50,000 liters of water. We installed new latrines for students, handwashing stations, and we trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. All of these components work together to unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

Pupils pose with their new rain tank

Rain Tank

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

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, the school cooks prepared meals for the artisans, and the school provided accommodations for the artisans during their work. Local women and men 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 rain tank. This needed to be the best site with good, clean roofing to catch the rainwater.

Excavating the rain tank site

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 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 laid. The wall was built with ferro-cement techniques through 6 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.

Artisans cementing the walls from inside the rain tank

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 standard. The project was well implemented without any challenges experienced.

Artisan works on the dome

Once finished, the tank was given 3 to 4 weeks to undergo complete curing before it was cleaned and handed over to Nanganda Primary School, though we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program.

Happy student stands with a fresh drink from the rain tank

"We are very happy as a school for this new water point," said teacher Mrs. Dinah Ramadhan.

"As a teacher, I used to feel bad and I had low morale coming to teach in the morning because I would not get the pupils in my class since they were busy out fetching water from the spring. This used to leave our learning targets unmet due to most class time being spent at the spring. But, we want to appreciate and thank God for you because of the great support you have given us. This will indeed not only help us improve not only our health but also our academics and so we are grateful."

Student enjoying water from the rain tank

Field Officer Jemmimah Khasoha, the lead officer for this project, remarked that "it was great working with the school."

"Even when the artisans were requesting a change in the quality of materials being collected, the school did not hesitate in availing them. This gave the artisans ample time in working together and building strong relationships with the school, which means that even when monitoring will be done in the subsequent months to come, there will be no difficulty," she continued.

"Great appreciation goes to the Almighty Father in heaven for the provision of good health to everyone concerned with this project and the provision of finances which made work easy. To the rest of the team, the good relationships built and the coordination of work was marvelous and so we appreciate their great work. The pupils of Nanganda Primary school from now henceforth will have clean, safe, and sufficient water for use."

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of 6 new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, half for girls and half for boys.

Girls pose with their new latrines

All of these new latrines have cement floors that are designed to be easy to use and clean. And with a rain tank right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

Boys celebrate their new latrines

Handwashing Stations

The 2 handwashing stations were delivered to the school and handed over to the student health club. These were placed outside of the girls’ and boys’ latrines to encourage handwashing after latrine use.

Health club members teach other students how to properly wash their hands at the stations, make sure the stations are filled with water and work to ensure that there is always soap or ash available.

Students show off their clean hands after using the handwashing station

New Knowledge

Hygiene and sanitation training was scheduled with the help of the school principal and the Head Teacher Mr. David Wamalwa, who together helped ensure that the training date would be convenient for students, staff, and parent representatives. Individual teachers helped by selecting students from each class to represent the others.

21 students attended training, which was conducted outside the classrooms under a mango tree since it was a normal school day and all of the inside spaces were full. Though the weather was pleasantly sunny and dry the whole day, the setting was a bit disruptive since it is near the main road. Noises from passing people on the roads and the construction of the facilities were present. Despite this, however, the pupils did their best to stay active and attentive. Since there were several local languages spoken among the students who attended, we translated the entire session as we went to ensure everyone understood each topic fully.

Field Officer Jemmimah Khasoha facilitates training

We covered a number of topics, including personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, and handwashing with soap as a barrier from germs; and operation and maintenance of the new facilities, with each person understanding their role for long-lasting clean water and good health. The new student health club will be greatly involved in project management and will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

Jemmimah leads handwashing practice

While discussing the importance and proper 10 steps of handwashing, one pupil said she never knew that something like handwashing could have a procedure. For her, the main thing was ensuring water had passed over her hands, she explained. But by the end of the session, she said she understood that it is for her own good and the health of others that she should be keen to wash her hands with all 10 steps since learning that hands are one of the easiest transmitters of diseases.

Student Lydia holds up a sign that announced her winning the election for Treasurer of the student health club

During the leadership and governance session, the pupils learned the roles of each leadership position they would elect for their student health club. We also discussed the qualities and characteristics of a good leader and when a leader is needed. What made this topic special is the fact that the pupils took it so seriously so that when the time came to elect their own leaders, it was a competition.

When Facilitator Jemmimah Khasoha asked each student running why they were so active and needed the position, the children answered that leaders are respected and honored. One student, Stanley, who was chosen to be Chair of the group said he wanted to gain courage and develop his skills in leadership because in the future he wanted to be a leader in the community and be elected Governor. This made this topic very special and important for this young boy who had already visualized who he wants to be and how to get there.

Student Alisters elected Secretary of the student health club

"This training helped me to view life from a different perspective," Stanley said.

"I have realized that people and the environment that one comes from can affect your personality and you can change how that environment looks and thus how it affects you...I had heard of things like handwashing and I knew washing hands was something important but I was not aware of how easy it is to do all of the steps. Therefore I see this training as one of the treasures I have gotten to experience since the year started," he finished.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

December, 2019: Nanganda Primary School Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Nanganda Primary School drains students’ time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this school through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!