April, 2021: Friends Mixed Secondary School Lwombei Project Complete!

Friends Mixed Secondary School Lwombei in Kenya now has access to a new source of safe, clean water thanks to the completion of their rain tank, which can collect 75,000 liters of water! We installed new latrines and handwashing stations for students, and we trained the school on improved sanitation and hygiene practices, including COVID-19 prevention. These components work together to unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

"I will have enough time to do my school work and improve my performance academically because we know have water within our school compound. With water within our school compound, I will be able to wash my hands regularly, and this will help me fight the Coronavirus because this is one of the most recommended ways to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus," said pupil Melvin.

Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new rain tank on campus.

"As a teacher, I will be able to clear my syllabus on time. Initially I was not able to finish my syllabus because the learning program was being interfered with when students were forced to end the lesson to go and get water. Students will now have humble time to finish their syllabus and have enough time to do their revision, which will lead to good results after examination," said Madam Beatrice Rono.

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How We Go From Ground to Rain Tank

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

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. The school’s kitchen staff and a few parents helped provide meals for the artisans, while the school provided the artisans’ accommodations. Local women and men helped our artisans with their manual labor, too.

The process officially began with our staff and school administration looking around the school compound to 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. We cast the foundation by laying big stones on the level ground and reinforcing them using steel wire, concrete, and waterproof cement. We affixed both the drawing pipe and the drainage pipe as we laid the foundation.

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

Inside the tank, we cast one central and four support pillars to ensure the dome does not cave in once cemented. Meanwhile, we plastered the inner wall while roughcasting the outer walls. We dug and plastered the access area to the tap outside of the tank, where we also installed a short staircase. In front of the access area, we constructed a soak pit where spilled water can drain from the access area through the ground. The pit helps to keep the tap area dry and tidy.

Dome construction could begin after the tank walls settled. We attached a dome skeleton of rebar, wire mesh, and sugar sacks to the tank walls before cementing and plastering it using similar techniques as the wall construction. We included a small manhole cover into the dome to allow access for future cleanings and water treatments.

We propped long wooden poles (about 75 of them!) inside the tank to support the dome while it cured. Then it was down to the finishing touches: fitting a lockable cover over the tap area, affixing the gutters to the roof and tank, and setting an overflow pipe in place at the edge of the dome for when the tank reaches capacity.

Once finished, we gave the rain tank three to four weeks to undergo complete curing. Finally, we removed the interior support poles and dome sugar sacks and cleaned the tank.

We officially handed over the rain tank to the school directly following the training. Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. 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.

The school plans to organize a more formal handing-over ceremony next term that will be attended by parents, teachers, students, and the Board of Management because, upon the project's completion, the school was busy preparing for the national examinations.

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. The school decided to allocate four doors of latrines for the girls and two for the boys.

These new latrines have cement floors 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.

Handwashing Stations

The two 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 wash their hands at the stations properly, make sure the stations are filled with water, and ensure that there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash available.

New Knowledge

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff, who ensured that the training date would be convenient for pupils and teachers. When the training day arrived, facilitators Betty Muhongo and Stella Inganji deployed to the site to lead the event.

Fifteen people attended the training, including ten students, two sanitation teachers, one member of the board of management, one parent representative, and the Deputy Principal. We held the training outside under a tree within the school compound. The location was conducive as it was cool and open to ensure proper physical distancing could be achieved.

We focused on COVID-19 prevention, transmission, and symptoms while also covering several other topics. These 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. During the latter, the students elected their peers to lead their newly formed student health club.

The club will be significantly involved in the water, sanitation, and hygiene project management at school. It will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community. 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.

"Myths and rumors about COVID-19 was a highlight for us for the training," said trainer Betty Muhongo. "We got different versions of information from students. One student said that Corona only affects the old and people living with HIV/AIDS. The facilitator had to shed more light on that and confirmed to them that that was not the case. The facilitator requested the students not to continue being aloof because they are at risk too and there is a need for them to uphold the measures and take good care of elderly parents back at home," Betty reported.

The demonstration on handwashing was the second most memorable topic. The facilitator demonstrated the ten handwashing steps to the participants, after which one student said it is so hard to adhere to the ten steps, saying that it is so cumbersome, especially when many people are to use the same handwashing facility like in a wedding ceremony. The facilitator requested them to start practicing the steps, and with time, everyone would be comfortable with the ten steps since it is for their own good.

"I have been able to learn a lot during this training period. I am going to put into practice what I have learned and even share with my family and friends, and life will never be the same again," said pupil Doreen, the elected Chair of the new student health club.

"We all know that knowledge is power. Most people have been giving wrong information about COVID-19, but with the information acquired during the training, no one will mislead me and my family," said student George, the club's elected Secretary.

We asked George what it was like to be at home for most of the last year due to Kenya's national coronavirus-related school closures and what it has been like coming back to school.

"I felt so bad because my precious time was wasted. To add on that, life was very expensive to our parents because we were all at home, so a lot of food was consumed and most parents had lost their jobs," George said.

"Since I am in charge of sports in our school, I really missed the sports activities that are normally held...I hope this year will not be like last year, and we shall have a chance to interact with other students from our neighboring schools."

"I am very happy to be back at school, and it's my humble request to other students that we shouldn't waste time. Instead, we need to compensate for the time lost last year," George continued.

"Before, our school had only two handwashing stations, one for teachers and one for all the students. Since water has been our major challenge, the handwashing stations lacked water and no one was responsible for that. With the child-to-child club, the stations will not lack water at all because they are mandated to provide day-to-day oversight of the project."

"I am worried in the sense that most people are ignorant about the virus. Personally, I have no worries about the Coronavirus simply because our facilitators have been able to take us through all steps that are needed for one to prevent contracting this virus. I will ensure that all my schoolmates adhere to the rules and regulations put in place by the Ministry of Health."

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 field officers to assist them. Also, 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!

March, 2021: Friends Mixed Secondary School Lwombei Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Friends Mixed Secondary School Lwombei 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!