Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 177 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2021

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 02/19/2024

Project Features


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AIC Kaketi Secondary School has a large population of students whose needs are greater than the school's current water supply can meet. The school has 2 water storage tanks that harvest rainwater for use during the academic year, but they are not nearly big enough to support the 177 students who attend.

The rain patterns of the school's region are not dependable, and the water harvested in the first rainy season is not sufficient for all 3 terms. Once the water supply ends, the school has to contract water boozers to deliver water to the school. This has proven to be very inconvenient and strenuous for the school's operation due to the high cost incurred.

"The water crisis has really stunted the growth rate of this school as well as affected the academic performance of the students. The water harvested from the rains can only last the school the first month of the first term. Afterward, we have to purchase the water by paying vendors to deliver it to school," said Deputy Head Teacher Richard Manthi.

"It's very hectic and strenuous because the school routine is always disrupted. We try our best but the situation gets the best of us because the school population is increasing rapidly and the needs are becoming more than the water supply."

Poverty levels of this community are relatively high and some parents are unable to raise the funds to clear school fees, making it hard for the school to meet its water needs. It has led to delayed and disrupted school programs because the water vendors often delay their deliveries without assured payment. At times, this means the school's food is prepared late or is not prepared well. Time and resources are spent addressing the water problem when they could be spent on the students' learning. The strains in the school have led to some students dropping out.

"The water in the school is never enough for all the students. We usually have to scramble for drinking water because only a little is usually set aside for the students to drink," said James, a student at the school.

"The water that is delivered to the school is usually very minimal and dirty. In addition, it is always delivered late which consumes a lot of time for learning. Duties are not performed well and often students are complaining of stomachaches and diarrhea, and this leads to absenteeism. Concentration in class is always affected by water scarcity in school."

Kaketi Secondary School was started in 2010 as an initiative of the community members in collaboration with the Africa Inland Church (AIC). The school is a full day school situated in a rural, peaceful, and very calm environment hence eliciting a conducive environment for learning. The school was taken up by the government in 2013 and officially became a public 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 3 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


March, 2021: Kaketi Secondary School Project Complete!

Kaketi Secondary School in Kenya now has access to a new source of safe, clean water thanks to the completion of their rain tank, which can collect 104,000 liters of water. We installed handwashing stations, and we trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. These components work together to unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

"Access to clean drinking water in the school is essential. We are delighted to have this water tank as it will ensure we have an adequate water supply," said student Jacinta.

"This water project will help me concentrate better in my education. I will have peace of mind. The availability of water in the school will ensure I have sufficient water for use. I plan to concentrate more on my studies and improve my academic performance."

Rain Tank

A meeting with all of the parents and the headteacher was 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.

This tank is a whopping 104,000 liters 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 in the tank's center up to the roof, preventing it from caving in. The walls are then plastered both internally and externally with waterproof cement. After that, several feet of guttering are 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.

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

"We are very grateful for this school water tank project as it will go a long way in establishing a comfortable learning environment for our students. The school programs will flow seamlessly without interruption since water plays a key role in running the school program," said Principal Ndumwa Nzue.

"Meals will be prepared and served on time, and the general hygiene and sanitation of the school will also improve because the classrooms and latrines will be clean. Access to clean drinking water will give our school a facelift in the community, and we foresee an admission of more students in the coming years as well as better academic performance by our students."

Handwashing Stations

Three new handwashing stations were delivered in time for training to be used for handwashing demonstrations. Each of these has three taps so that nine students can wash their hands at the same time.

New Knowledge

The area field officer, Benson Kituku, visited the school's principal to inform him about the scheduled hygiene and sanitation training and the requirements needed, such as students' and teachers' attendance. The training took place at the school's assembly grounds. The environment was conducive as it had enough space for all of the students to observe COVID-19 rules and regulations, including physical distancing.

Hygiene training held outside

The attendance was as expected with 94 girls, 82 boys, and 9 teachers. All of the students participated equally during the training. They were very interested and participative throughout the session.

We went over topics including student health club activities; disease transmission; preventing disease spread; personal hygiene; handwashing; water hygiene; food hygiene; latrine hygiene; and soap making.

Soap making

Soap making was identified as the most memorable topic by all of the students. During this topic, an introduction to the soap chemicals was done, the instructions for stirring the soap and the procedure were given, then later the actual activity was done. Students showed a lot of interest during this activity.

"The training was very valuable to me. I have gained a lot of knowledge, such as better water treatment methods, including the use of moringa seeds, sun drying, and chlorination," said Jacinta.

Handwashing demonstration.

"I learned very important skills such as handwashing, soap making, and the importance of maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation both within my environment and at an individual level. The soap making skills will play a huge role in income generation since I can make soap and sell it to other community members when I get home. I also learned that proper hygiene and sanitation practices are key in improving our health as it protects us from contracting diseases."

Thank you for making all of this possible!




February, 2021: Kaketi Secondary School project underway!

Dirty water from open water sources is making students at Kaketi Secondary School in Kenya sick. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more at the school.

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




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: Water Yields Academic Opportunities!

March, 2022

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

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kaketi 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!

Boniface M. is an 18-year-old student at Kaketi Secondary School. When asked about the school's water challenges before a rain tank was installed last year he was open about the challenges they faced on a daily basis.

He said, "Initially, the school experienced a lot of water scarcity challenges. The water in the storage tanks barely lasted the school for a term, [so] the admin would contract parents to deliver the water. Our meals would be prepared late because at times these parents would come late and it would affect the school's entire program. The water we were served was very little, and it was not fresh for cleaning. Students would often complain of stomach aches and typhoid."

But since the installation of the new rain tank, things have been different for him and the other students that attend Kaketi.

Fellow student Faith collecting water from the tank.

Boniface shared, "The water tank has been a great relief to everyone. School life now feels very comfortable and relaxing. [The] availability of water from the tank has boosted most of [the] students' self-confidence of pursuing their dreams."

The school having readily available water has allowed them to take on new projects that benefit the entire school and make students feel like they are genuinely learning by putting classroom theories into practice.

Boniface (using a watering can) in the garden with fellow students and teachers.

Boniface continued, "We have also started agricultural projects where we have kale, spinach, and maize. At the moment, we have started tree planting and agriculture projects ahead of the National Exams. [The] availability of water has been helpful to us in that we can engage in all the practical lessons like all other schools without feeling disadvantaged. We are hopeful about excelling in our academics."

The future looks bright for Boniface and his classmates, all thanks to clean water.


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 Kaketi 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 Kaketi 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

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