March, 2020: Friends School Ikoli Secondary Project Complete!

Please note, all photos in this report were taken before social distancing recommendations went into place.

Friends School Ikoli Secondary 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 75,000 liters of water! We installed new latrines and handwashing stations for students, 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.

"In the past, we have been having issues of time wastage for the students had to wait for hours to get water from the protected hand-dug well," said teacher Marango Nyongesa.

"At times, the container used to draw water would drop into the well due to the worn-out rope. In such cases, our time was wasted. As a teacher, I was failing to meet the set targets which reduced my performance level."

"Now that we have been blessed to have these facilities within our compound that we can access easily, we are guaranteed good performance for the time saved will be used for remedial classes."

Teacher Mr. Marango Nyongesa

"With the completion of the water point, our sanitation and hygiene will improve. We will be having cleaning every week and this will reduce cases like flu that we have been experiencing almost every day, especially among students who are allergic to dust. As a sanitation teacher, the planned goal that we would achieve is to ensure all the students and teachers master the importance of handwashing and hygiene practices which are key to our good health."

Students were just as excited about the completed rain tank as teachers.

"Accessing safe, clean water will improve my health and studies. This is because we are sure of the water and the hygiene practices we were taught will help in a big way," said pupil Mark.

"For my education, my performance will improve for I will have enough time to study. Accessing water will now be a 1-minute process unlike in the past when you had to take more time to get water from the hand-dug well."

"Having this water point, my goal of improving my performance is possible. This is because time wasted to scramble for water at the well is over for I will use it for studies."

Rain Tank

Construction for this 75,000-liter rain tank was successful!

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, the school cooks and community members 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.

Bricks hand-delivered by students to the school grounds

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 enough land and a nearby building with good, clean roofing to catch the rainwater.

Then, we cleared the site by excavating the soil to make level ground for the tank foundation. The foundation was cast by laying big stones on the level ground and reinforcing them using steel wire, concrete, and waterproof cement. Both the drawing pipe as well as the drainage pipe were affixed as the foundation was laid.

Working on rain tank foundation

Next, the walls were formed using a skeleton of rebar and wire mesh with sugar sacks temporarily tied to the outside as backing. This was attached to the foundation’s edges so that the work team could start the Ferro-cementing process, in which the walls are layered with cement alternating with the inner and outer side until 6 layers of cement are in place. (The sugar sacks are removed once the interior receives its first 2 layers of cement.)

Attaching sugar sacks to wire wall skeleton

Inside the tank, 1 central and 4 support pillars were cast to ensure the dome does not fall down once cemented. Meanwhile, the inner wall was plastered while the outer walls received their roughcasting. Outside of the tank, the access area to the tap was dug, plastered, and a short staircase installed, along with a soak pit where spilled water can drain from the access area through the ground. This helps to keep the tap area dry and tidy.

Plastering interior of tank

Dome construction could begin after the tank walls had been given enough time to settle. Using similar techniques as used on the walls, the dome started as rebar, wire mesh, and sugar sacks and was attached to the tank walls before receiving cement and plaster. A small manhole cover was built into the dome to allow access for future cleanings and water treatments.

Sewing sugar sacks to dome skeleton

Long wooden poles (about 75 of them!) were placed inside the tank to support the dome while it cured. A lockable manhole cover was fitted over the tap area, the gutters were affixed to the roof and the tank, and an overflow pipe was set in place at the edge of the dome for when the tank reaches capacity.

Cementing the dome

Once finished, the rain tank was given 3-4 weeks to undergo complete curing. Finally, the interior support poles and dome sugar sacks were removed, the tank was cleaned, and we waited as rain filled the tank with fresh water. When there was a sufficient volume in the tank, we treated the water and we officially handed it over to Friends School Ikoli Secondary.

Students take a sip of clean water from the tank

As soon as it was ready, students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. The event was a great chance for us to acknowledge the school administration and students as the primary parties entrusted with the tools we have given, as well as remind them of our continued support as they develop. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day flowing in all directions.

Fetching water from the rain tank

VIP Latrines

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

Girls pose in front of their new VIP 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 pose in front of their new VIP latrines

Handwashing Stations

The 2 handwashing stations were set up during training 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 will 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 a cleaning agent such as soap or ash available.

Girls line up to wash their hands

New Knowledge

Hygiene and sanitation training was scheduled with the help of the school principal, who ensured 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. When the training day arrived, facilitators Jemmimah Khasoha and Laura Alulu deployed to the site.

18 people attended training, including students from 3 grades. The oldest students were included in the training to help lead by example and learn how to encourage their younger peers in what they learned. The training was done within the school compound and in a classroom. The venue was very fine, cool, and it gave participants ample time for the training. The students were keen and very attentive making the training session active and lively.

Students in a group discussion at training

We covered a number of topics including personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, and the 10 steps of handwashing; environmental hygiene; child rights; operation and maintenance of the rain tank, latrines, and handwashing stations; and leadership and governance. During the latter, the students elected their peers to lead their newly formed student health club. The club will be greatly involved in the water, sanitation, and hygiene project management at school and will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

Trainer Jemmimah demonstrates the 10 steps of handwashing

We involved stretches, dances, and physical activities in between each topic to keep the pupils’ energy up and their minds active. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

The most memorable topic was menstrual hygiene, our staff thought. For this to be memorable, the participants were both boys and girls. The participants seemed to be shy in the beginning and could not look at the facilitator, thus turning their heads down. Asking a girl student why this was happening, she said it is to be a girls' talk for when boys hear the comments, they might make jokes about them. Another male participant said that the topic was to be for ladies only for the boys do not have menstruation.

Students lead one another in the steps of handwashing

The facilitator explained further and helped them to understand that it is not a 1-gender issue because we are born from families where there are female beings and also we would be having friends from all genders. This opened their minds and suggested what should be done during this time. The participants then decided that education is key and that they will all help every girl child by participating in the session. This made this topic very special.

Teenage pregnancy was another topic that was memorable in that the participants were active in responding to questions asked. We discussed how the girl child is the most affected and bears the largest burden by early pregnancy. Sensitization on sexuality was one of the key conversations we had. The teachers who were in attendance were asked to go the extra mile to talk to their students and do whatever they can to help their pupils remain in school.

Jemmimah shows proper toothbrushing technique

"The training has been of great value. I am one kind of a lady who used to not appreciate myself and would like to live another student's life. After the training, I realized that these are some of the things that make many teenagers fall into men's trap and then get pregnant. This information has helped me and I have to help other students who have the same behavior. I am therefore grateful indeed," said student Sylvia.

Students stand proudly with the rain tank

When an issue arises concerning the water project, the students and teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure the water point works appropriately. However, if the issue is beyond their capabilities, they can contact our team of field officers to assist them. In addition, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our ongoing monitoring and maintenance program.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

February, 2020: Friends School Ikoli Secondary Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Friends School Ikoli Secondary 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!