Rehabilitation Project
Our first impression of the water sources at Kyandoa Primary School is that they are inadequate. The school currently possesses two 10,000-liter plastic tanks and one 5,000-liter plastic tank.
With a population of 209 students in the school, the water is insufficient.
The current water tanks used for harvesting rainwater can last the school for two to three months. The school can purchase water, but that drains their finances and deters them from investing in other needs.
That means the water responsibility falls on the students. Once the water in the storage facilities runs out, the students are expected to carry water to school. This has negative impact on their wellbeing as well as their education. The students arrive at school very exhausted. As a result, their performance deteriorates. The lunch program cannot be implemented because there is not enough water for cooking.
"Water scarcity in school is a very big challenge for us," 15-year-old student Alex Kitonga said. "When there is no water in school, we are told to carry water which is very hectic. By the time we get to school in the morning, we are usually very tired. Some of us come from very far and at times we lack water to carry to school."
Rainwater Catchment Tank
We will build a 104,000-liter rainwater catchment tank for this school. This water will benefit the students, teachers, and supplementary staff. Parents will mobilize the materials needed for construction, such as sand and stone. They will also lend some strong arms to help with the actual construction.
The huge capacity of this tank makes the others look tiny in comparison; 104,000 liters should be enough water to carry students and staff through the entire dry season. As soon as the tank has time to cure, it can begin to collect rainwater for drinking, cooking, and cleaning!
Sanitation Situation
The latrines at the school are rarely washed due to the insufficient supply of water. When there's no water, they often use ash to dispense the odor - a temporary fix that does not clean the toilets.
"Once we get a sufficient supply of water, we will improve the sanitation of our school by installing handwashing stations, washing our latrines on regular basis and also cleaning our classes in order to reduce the amount of dust on the surfaces," said Headteacher John Mwinzi.
Handwashing Stations
Three handwashing stations will be delivered at the project’s completion. These are 1,000-liter plastic tanks fitted with four taps. The health club and school management will be responsible for making sure tanks are filled with water and that a cleaning agent such as soap or ash is available.
Training
Students and staff will be trained for one day. Those in attendance will form a school health club that will promote good hygiene and sanitation practices both at school and home. They will learn all of the steps to proper handwashing, how to treat water, and how to keep their environment clean. The school will also be taught how to best oversee and maintain their new rainwater catchment tank and handwashing stations.
About the School
Kyandoa Primary School was established in 1989 by the joint effort of community members and the New Apostolic Church. With time, the government through the District Education Board began funding the school. This contributed largely to the growth of the school. The parents have also helped the growth of the school by contributing to the construction of its structures.
The school is located in a rural area. The environment of the school is conducive for learning as it is calm and peaceful. The school is built on a very large piece of land. Most of the buildings are older, made from old iron sheets and weak brick walls.
