Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 230 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2021

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 02/28/2024

Project Features


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The 214 students at Kimuuni Secondary School rely on 2 10,000-liter plastic tanks that harvest rainwater to meet their daily needs. Since the school is located in a semi-arid region of Kenya, it is prone to receiving little to no rainfall for months at a time - leaving the tanks dry for most of the year.

"The water in the tanks run out very fast and by the time the second month of the term clocks in, there is no water in the tank," said Boniface, a student at the school.

The school is situated in a peaceful and calm rural area that provides a conducive learning environment. It is surrounded by community homesteads and farms. The environment within the school grounds is well maintained as they have planted several trees and grass within the compound.

The school was started in 2008 by the community members. It was later closed due to insufficient funds to run it. In 2010, it was revived thanks to the government registering it as a public school. To date, the school's growth is attributed to the support of both the parents and the government.

The school has had to borrow a tank from a neighboring school in an attempt to store sufficient water for the students, but their efforts have been futile due to the increasing population of the school. It also pays water vendors to deliver water when necessary, but money spent on these deliveries prevents the school from investing in its infrastructure and other programs as much as it would like.

"The school is in dire need of water," said Principal Nahashon Kimwaki.

"Its development has stagnated for a long time due to water scarcity. Currently, the computer lab and dining hall construction have stalled because the school has no more funds since most of the finances are channeled to purchasing water for use in the school."

Rain Tank

We will build a 104,000-liter rain tank for this school, making the others look tiny in comparison. Because of how rarely it rains in Southeastern Kenya, this tank's large volume is designed to store as much water as possible during the seasonal rains, making more water available through the dry months. This water will benefit the students, teachers, and supplementary staff.

Parents will mobilize the materials needed for construction, including sand, stones, and water. They will also lend their strength and time to help with the construction. We will complement their materials with a skilled artisan to lead the project in addition to providing the tools, lumber, metal, cement, and gutter system.

As soon as the tank has time to cure, it can begin collecting rainwater for the school's use.

Training

We will train students and staff on sanitation, hygiene, and other topics for 1 day. Those in attendance will form a school health club that will promote good hygiene and sanitation practices both at school and at 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 rain tank and handwashing stations.

Handwashing Stations

3 handwashing stations will be installed upon the project’s completion and before training. These are 1,000-liter plastic tanks fitted with 4 taps each. The student health club and school management will be responsible for making sure the tanks are filled with water and that a cleaning agent such as soap or ash is always available.

Project Updates


May, 2021: Kimuuni Secondary School update from the field

The water tank at Kimuuni Secondary School was completed in 2020 when schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the students returned to class, they returned to a school with a reliable source of water. Our team recently visited the school as a part of our quarterly monitoring program.

Here are a few pictures from the visit:




October, 2020: Kimuuni Secondary School construction complete

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

Kimuuni Secondary 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 104,000 liters of water. 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.

As soon as the students return, we will schedule a hygiene and sanitation training. Our teams are preparing right now for the return of school and to support schools in their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will update you once that is complete with photos from the training, the painted tank, and with the students using their new water source.

Rain Tank

A meeting with all of the parents and the headteacher was then held to plan out the project. Parents agreed to collect construction materials like sand, rocks, and water. We would complement their materials by delivering the expertise, tools, lumber, metal, cement, and gutter system.

Rocks for the tank

This tank is a whopping 104,000 liters not because of a large student population, but because of how rarely it rains in Southeastern Kenya. The more water we can store during the seasonal rains, the more water available through the dry months.

Construction for this large rain tank is much like the construction of a concrete house. First, the ground is leveled for foundation excavation.

Alternating layers of impermeable rocks are laid upon mortar up to 7 feet high, with internal and external diameters of 25 and 28 feet respectively.

A reinforced concrete column is built right up to the center of the tank, which holds up the roof and prevents it from caving in. The walls are then plastered both internally and externally with waterproof cement. After that, several feet of guttering is installed and channeled into the tank. The roofing is made of iron sheets and timber. There are vents to allow rainwater into the tank from the gutters.

Gutters

School leadership is armed with the technical skills to ensure that the water tank remains functional, and gaps that exist can be identified through our ongoing monitoring visits.




September, 2020: Kimuuni Secondary School project underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Kimuuni Secondary 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 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!


A Year Later: A New Dining Hall and an Emphasis on Cleanliness

October, 2021

A year ago, your generous donation helped Kimuuni Secondary School in Kenya access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Evans. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kimuuni 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!

"It was a challenge to keep the classes clean, get clean drinking water, and water was never enough to cook the meals as we would always buy, which was expensive," said Evans.

"Now, the school does not strain to get water for use thanks to the water tank. The water can last the entire term and serve all the school’s needs, such as drinking, cooking, cleaning, and construction projects. Students can learn in clean classrooms and their meals are prepared/served on time."

"The school is now able to cut costs that were initially spent on purchasing water, we have channeled the cash to infrastructural development, such as the completion of the dining hall."

"Our greatest worry would have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to inadequate water supply. However, the tank gave us assurance that we can keep our students safe here in school. We were able to administer a handwashing culture with soap and clean water."

"In addition, with the availability of water, we have managed to sustain a good, conducive learning environment for our students by improving our hygiene and sanitation standards such that they can comfortably concentrate on their studies."

Evans


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 Kimuuni 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 Kimuuni 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

Project Sponsor - Lifeplus Foundation