The Water Project’s WaSH program in Western Kenya aims to access, protect, filter, and purify the abundant waters that are available through two seasonal rains, prevalent springs, high water tables, and deep aquifers in the region. Explore water projects in communities, schools, and churches in Western Kenya such as protected springs, rainwater catchment systems, and water wells. This program emphasizes the power of strategic geographical saturation of projects, effective hygiene and sanitation training, and relational networking between NGOs, health workers, local politicians, and educators.
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!
Rehabilitation Project
Rehabilitation is not just fixing a pump - it’s total community re-engagement.
There’s only one thing we can think of that might be worse than not having safe water: having safe water, and then losing it because a project fell into disrepair.
Rehabilitation often proves to be a big challenge, as many wells have sit idle for years and there is typically little information about the specifics of the well. A borehole and dug well rehabilitation involves quite a bit of discovery. First, our teams work to discover as much as they can about the initial project. What materials were used? Was the borehole/hand-dug well properly constructed? Many of these questions can only be answered by diving in, and doing “the work” which makes up a rehabilitation.
Once our teams have found the problem, they find the solution. Then, they reconstruct the well and install a hand pump.
Engagement and training with communities takes into account rehabilitation was needed and alters the program to suit the needs of the community. After all - engaging with this community in the same way which led to the initial, failed project will not bring new results. Our teams work to understand the social and support reasons leading to initial failure, and make those areas a focus of our ongoing engagement with communities.
Local Leadership
Water projects don’t last long without the help of local leaders. They’re the ones who explain the situation on the ground to us (and our donors!) while also outlining our goals and intentions for the community members.
The Water Project identifies, supports, and partners with local organizations that share our vision of reliable, verifiable, and clean water. Together, we build lasting local solutions and undertake ongoing monitoring and resolution to ensure our solutions are still working years into the future.
Community Engagement
We engage the communities we work with at every step of a water project.
These interactions are rooted in relationship-building. We involve the community in implementation, set expectations for water point management, prepare community members for ongoing costs, and more. All of this happens before a water project is installed.
The people receiving a water project get a leading seat at the table. Every water project we implement requires negotiations with several interested parties. During this step and every other, we continuously try to embody our favorite ideals: reliability, relationship, and trust.
Handwashing Stations
Handwashing with soap is critical to reduce illness, especially for children who are vulnerable to diarrheal diseases. Our projects include hygiene training, which teaches community members how to build handwashing stations and communicates the importance of proper handwashing techniques. When we work at schools, we install permanent handwashing stations and work to ensure a constant supply of soap so students and teachers can experience better health.
Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrines
We install Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrines at all of our projects in all Kenya school projects because proper hygiene and sanitation facilities go hand-in-hand with access to clean, reliable water. VIP Latrines contain a vent pipe fitted to the pit and a screen over the pipe opening that helps limit flies and bad smells. This makes the latrines more sanitary and easier to use.
Hygiene and Sanitation Training
For many communities, water is just the beginning. Living without water deprioritizes things that deplete water rations, like bathing, cleaning, and even handwashing. Also, in some cases, community members who couldn’t afford to go to school never learned topics usually covered in health classes. A steady water supply on its own won’t solve these issues, which is why we train the people in every community, school, and health center we provide with a water project.
Although we tailor the subjects we cover in each training to each region and community, there are some staples we always touch on: water handling and storage; personal and environmental hygiene; disease transmission; how to form and maintain a water user committee; and the operation/maintenance of the community’s new water project.
With each training, our goal is to empower communities to take back their personal health so growth and development can begin.
Monitoring and Resolution
Sub-Saharan Africa is littered with broken and abandoned wells installed by well-meaning people.
We love celebrating when a project is complete and a community has access to clean, safe water. However, reliability is the true measure of our impact.
Water can only transform lives if it’s always there. Water-fetchers need to know that when they visit one of our water points, there will always be water. Sometimes, it only takes one sip of dirty water to make someone sick, even if they’d been drinking clean water for months beforehand.
This is why we measure our water projects’ downtime in hours, not days or weeks. Each hour is critical to someone’s life, and each hour someone has to wait for clean water is another opportunity to go back to the rivers, swamps, and scoop holes they resorted to before our water project was installed. Our past water projects are just as important as what we tackle in the future.
The Water Project monitors all of our water projects to make sure water service continues. To learn more about how you can help with ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and resolution, read about The Water Promise: a group of amazing, world-changing monthly donors who understand the power of keeping water flowing long after the installation is done.
Project Timeline FAQ
Project Status
We’re working hard to make sure your gifts result in a lasting water project for the community it serves. Our engagement with a community begins many months before construction and lasts years after construction. The timeline here is focused on the physical construction of the water project. There is also training and engagement work that has already started.
Water project construction in the developing world is hard work. A lot of things can and do cause delays - which are normal. We attempt to make our best judgment of when construction will be complete, but the circumstances surrounding actual "in the field" conditions are far from our control.
Weather, supply availability, government paperwork, and progress of community involvement are just a few of the variables that can delay (and sometimes speed up) a project's completion.
We will always tell you if anything changes. And, if you get a notice like this – it’s actually further proof your gifts are being carefully used towards a water project that lasts.
Click icons to learn about each feature.
Report Submitted by Jacklyne Chelagat, Impact Communication Officer
Jacklyne loves seeing lives transformed by clean water. She is currently pursuing her degree in development studies and looks forward to how that will add even more value to her relationships with communities.
Jacklyne has been a Impact Communication Officer since 2014, with WeWaSaFo, The Water Project's trusted partner in our Western Kenya WaSH Program.
"The water source is terrible and unfit for consumption," said one of our staff after seeing for the first time the water source the 464 students and 15 teachers and staff at Mukoko Baptist Primary School are relying on.
It is a muddy stream in the village, open to all sorts of runoff and contamination. It is, unquestioningly, not safe for drinking.
"The taste of our water is very bad with a foul smell. Many times after drinking it I have vommitted and contracted stomach disorders. This has forced me not to drink water unless I am at home," said Teacher Mr. Patrick Shikuku, though it is an ideal he cannot always uphold.
Pupils are first sent to the stream to fetch water when they arrive at school at 6:45 AM. Once at the stream, they often fight amongst themselves without supervision. Sometimes the students are harassed by neighbors, and pupils' jerricans get lost or stolen, angering their parents. Accidents like twisted ankles and hurt feet are also common while fetching water due to the slippery rocks and mud in the streambed. Students are sent back to the stream throughout the day as needed since the water they bring is the sole source the school relies on for cooking, cleaning, and drinking purposes.
Founded in 2011 by the Baptist Church, there has always been a severe water crisis at Mukoko Primary. Students report frequent waterborne diseases including typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea. Water-related absenteeism ravages the student population, dragging their academic performance down with it.
"I am always absent because I am sick, and mostly I perform poorly," said 13-year-old student Bryston.
Poor sanitation and hygiene standards are perpetuating the water-related diseases among students. There are just 2 latrines, 1 for the girls and 1 for the boys, for all 464 students. The lines to use them during breaks are interminable, and the latrines are filling up fast. There is currently nowhere for students to wash their hands after using the latrines (or before eating lunch), let alone the water to do so.
The teachers described their school's situation as "incredibly frustrating and urgent". We could not agree with them more.
What we can do:
Rain Tank
A 75,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will help alleviate the water crisis at this school. The school will help collect the needed construction materials such as sand, bricks, rocks, and water for mixing cement. We will complement their materials by providing an expert team of artisans, tools, hardware, and the guttering system. Once finished, this tank will begin catching rainfall that will be used by the school’s students and staff for drinking, handwashing, cooking, cleaning, and much more.
We and the school strongly believe that all of these components will work together to improve standards at this school, which will help lead to better student academic performance and will help unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.
Handwashing Stations
The student health club will oversee the 2 new handwashing stations we will provide, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The club leaders will fill the handwashing stations with water daily and make sure they are always supplied with a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.
VIP Latrines
2 triple-door latrine blocks will be constructed with local materials that the school will help gather. 3 doors will serve the girls while the other 3 will serve the boys. All of these new latrines will have cement floors that are designed to be easy to use and to clean. And with a rain tank right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.
Training
We will hold a 1-day intensive training on improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits at this school. Our team of facilitators will use a variety of methods to train students and staff, including participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) and asset-based community development (ABCD). We will initiate a child-to-child (CTC) student health club, which will prepare students to lead other pupils into healthy habits at school and at home. We will also lead lectures, group discussions, and provide illustrative handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good hygiene practices within the school. We will then conduct a series of follow-up trainings before transitioning to our regularly scheduled support visits throughout the year.
Project Updates
December, 2020: Celebrating Clean Water at Mukoko Baptist Primary School
We are happy to share that we recently returned to Mukoko Baptist Primary School to officially celebrate the milestone completion of their 75,000-liter rain tank, six doors of VIP latrines, and two new handwashing stations!
The event was an excellent chance for us to acknowledge the school administration and students as the primary parties entrusted with the tools we have given and remind them of our continued support as they develop. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.
"I shall no longer be carrying water in containers from home, and I am now sure of clean water. I believe our classroom will always be clean, and my performance will definitely improve," said pupil Metrine.
Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new rain tank on campus.
"75,000 liters is a lot of water, and it will greatly affect our life as a school positively. It has saved us time, energy, and the risks involved in the process of sourcing water outside the school compound. We shall definitely better our academic performance," reported Madam Eunice Khatitit Shango, a school teacher.
Students fetch water from the rain tank
We celebrated the rain tank and the latrines and handwashing stations for helping the school end the cycle of fecal-oral diseases. Combined with the knowledge gained at training on improving health, hygiene, and sanitation with these new facilities, students and teachers will have a headstart at keeping many diseases - and COVID-19 - at bay.
Sanitation superhero, ready for duty
The limited student body currently in school completes their term in December, and we look forward to welcoming back the rest of their classmates in January.
Students celebrate clean hands and safe latrines.
With the students' return, we will continue to engage every school we serve to help keep students and teachers up-to-date on the latest guidelines for how best to stay safe from COVID-19 while at school.
Girls wash their hands after using the new latrines
Of course, we will also continue our routine monitoring and maintenance program to ensure Mukoko Baptist Primary School can continue to celebrate clean water today and every day.
Thank you!
Thank you for making all of this possible!
November, 2020: Mukoko Baptist Primary School Training Complete, Celebration Coming Soon!
We have exciting news!
When Kenya closed schools nationwide in March 2020 to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, we worked carefully to ensure Mukoko Baptist Primary School's rain tank and latrines reached completion despite the closure. To achieve this, we relied on a combination of mutual trust and communication with the school and students' families to finish construction while keeping our team and the community safe.
Kenyan schools were originally scheduled to reopen in January 2021, when we planned to train students and teachers on COVID-19 prevention, handwashing, and how to take care of their new rain tank and latrines.
Recently, however, the Kenyan government allowed certain grades of students to resume their classes for the remainder of 2020. Upon hearing this news, we treated the water in every school rain tank to ensure a fresh supply of drinking water for the returning pupils.
Once students returned to school, we acted quickly to offer our health, hygiene, and COVID-19 training to schools to help them better use the clean water from their rain tanks to keep students and teachers safe and healthy. Our good relationship and open communication with Mukoko Baptist Primary School led to their principal inviting our team to conduct the training immediately.
Physical distancing check!
While there, we also officially handed over the rain tank and latrines to the school, though we did not have time for a celebration due to the time limits currently in place for school visitors. We opted for a simple handing-over ceremony attended by representatives from the school administration, the school board of management, the local community, and facilitator Jacklyne Chelagat who was there to lead the training.
Senior Teacher Madam Eunice Katiti thanking our team for the rain tank
Jacklyne briefed the representatives on some maintenance practices and their roles as the senior management team of the school's WASH projects. Senior Teacher Madam Eunice Katiti thanked our team for considering them for the project, and the quick ceremony ended in a general prayer of thanks.
At their invitation, we are working with the school administration to plan a more dedicated time for a small and safe celebration soon. We look forward to reaching back out to you with photos and videos from the event!
Training
The school and our team agreed that adherence to physical distancing and mask-wearing whenever possible would be necessary to train the students safely. With a strict timetable to minimize exposure and an eager student body ready to learn, we sent facilitator Jacklyne Chelagat to lead the training.
Students read handouts at training
13 students and 1 teacher, Madam Katiti, attended training, which we held inside a classroom. We focused on COVID-19 prevention, transmission, and symptoms while also covering a number of other topics. The prevention session was particularly memorable as students came up with different ways of greeting each other safely, and each student wanted to demonstrate.
Students practiced several contactless greetings instead of the usual hug or handshake.
Pupil Lavendar, whose peers elected her as Secretary of the new health club, described the training as "very informative. I have learned a lot. I now know the difference between the coronavirus and COVID-19. I am so grateful."
Lavendar in front of the rain tank with Trainer Jacklyne
Emmanuel, the newly elected student Chair of the health club, found value in the training as well.
"We were taught a lot of things. I have been taught how to wash hands, new ways of greeting other people, and how to prevent myself from contracting COVID-19."
Emmanuel
"We were washing hands, but not in the right way. We were also observing social distancing, although we were not very keen. Today, a lot of emphasis has been placed on all safety measures. We intend to observe all preventive measures just like we did before, but this [time] we shall be keener and more strict."
Emmanuel draws his interpretation of the coronavirus on the board.
Other topics the facilitators covered included personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, and the ten steps of handwashing; environmental hygiene; child rights; operation and maintenance of the rain tank, latrines, and handwashing stations; and leadership and governance.
Trainer Jacklyne congratulates the elected student health club leaders.
During the governance session, the students elected their peers to lead their newly formed student health club. This group of students was unique as most wanted to be elected as the treasurer because they all really wanted to handle the finances. The club will be greatly involved in the water, sanitation, and hygiene project management at their school. They will also be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.
Tank maintenance session
When more students return to school next year, the students we trained will be instrumental in sharing what they learned with the rest of the student body to help keep everyone safe and healthy.
We involved stretches, dances, and physical activities 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.
Trainer Jacklyne distributes soap during the handwashing practical.
When an issue arises concerning the water project, the students and teachers are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify most problems 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.
Students must lead their peers in the handwashing practical to demonstrate competence.
In addition, we will continue to offer the school unmatchable support as a part of our ongoing monitoring and maintenance program. When schools fully reopen, we will continue to engage them in coronavirus prevention training and reminders.
Thank you for making all of this possible - stay tuned for an update on the celebration at Mukoko Baptist Primary School!
August, 2020: Mukoko Baptist Primary School Hygiene Training Postponed to 2021
Not too long ago, we reached out to share exciting news about completing the construction of the rain tank and VIP latrines at Mukoko Baptist Primary School.
A school staff member stands with the 75,000-liter rain tank at Mukoko Baptist Primary School.
Kenya’s president recently announced that due to the progression of COVID-19 in Kenya, all primary and secondary schools will remain closed until at least January 2021.
We are pleased to share that these new WASH facilities remain in tip-top shape and, in the case of the rain tank, actively collecting water.
Water flows from the rain tank's tap.
We will not be able to formally hand over the rain tank and VIP latrines to the school or conduct health and hygiene training until students return. Because of that, we consider this project “incomplete.” That is why we extended the expected completion date to 2021 - after we expect schools to reopen.
1 of the 2 blocks of VIP latrines with ha handwashing station await the students' return.
We are counting down the months and days until we can greet these students back at school with their new rain tank and latrines! Once we complete the student-focused health and hygiene training and we can safely celebrate the students' first use of the new project, we will be sure to send you an update.
June, 2020: Mukoko Baptist Primary School Construction Complete
Please note, all construction photos in this report were taken before social distancing recommendations went into effect.
Construction of the rain tank and VIP latrines at Mukoko Baptist Primary is now complete!
While Kenyan schools remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these new water and sanitation facilities will be ready and waiting for the students' return.
A school staff member poses with the completed rain tank
The rain tank has the ability to collect 75,000 liters of water, providing a new source of safe, clean water on campus. Combined with the 6 new VIP latrines we built and the future installation of 2 new handwashing facilities once classes resume, we look forward to seeing all of these components work together to unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.
Flowing water from the rain tank
The latrines will be divided evenly among the students by gender, 3 for girls and 3 for boys. All of these new latrines have cement floors that are designed to be easy to use and clean, locking doors for safety and privacy, and vents designed to keep air flowing up and out through the roof. With a rain tank right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.
A block of VIP latrines with the new handwashing station
Once schools reopen, we will schedule a training session with students, teachers, and parents. This 1-day intensive will cover a wide range of topics including personal and environmental hygiene and the operation and maintenance of the rain tank, latrines, and handwashing stations. There will be a special emphasis on handwashing.
A pupil who lives nearby came to see the completed projects
We will be sure to reach back out to you with more news and photos from the training and handing-over ceremony of the rain tank once schools reopen!
How We Go From Ground to Rain Tank
Before schools closed, parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. Even after the children went home, the school team of kitchen staff and a few parents helped provide meals for the artisans, who were given accommodations by the school. Local women and men helped our artisans with their manual labor, too.
Students carry stones to the construction site (before schools closed)
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.
Students add to the rock piles (before schools closed)
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.
A community member helps break stones into gravel
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.)
Excavation of the rain tank site
Inside the tank, 1 central and 4 support pillars were cast to ensure the dome does not cave in once cemented. Meanwhile, the inner wall was plastered while the outer walls received their roughcasting.
Adding stones to excavated soil for rain tank foundation (before schools closed)
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.
Interior cement work
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.
Dome cement work
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.
Support poles inside the tank to temporarily support the dome as it dries
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 and the tank was cleaned.
Since completion, there have been very heavy and frequent rains in this region of Western Kenya. We are monitoring the water levels in the tank thanks to the help of the school staff who continue to monitor campus during the break. When schools are ready to reopen, we will treat the tank full of fresh water just before students arrive to be sure it is ready for their use.
Thank you for helping to make this work possible!
May, 2020: Mukoko Baptist Primary School Project Underway!
A severe clean water shortage at Mukoko Baptist 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!
Project Videos
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: Mukoko Baptist Primary School
July, 2021
A year ago, your generous donation helped Mukoko Baptist Primary School in Kenya access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Lavender. Thank you!
Keeping The Water Promise
There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Mukoko Baptist Primary School.
This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Mukoko Baptist Primary 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!
"As a pupil of this school, I had been wasting much time walking long distances looking for water. This contributed to absenteeism among pupils, manual cleaning not being done on a daily basis, food not being prepared at school, and less time for academic activities. But now the entire school can access clean and safe water for school activities and improve school hygiene. "
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 Mukoko Baptist Primary 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 Mukoko Baptist Primary 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
Eamon and Rebecca Moore Movement Foundation Matching Gift, Rebecca Moore 1 individual donor(s)
Rehabilitation Project
