January, 2022: Givudemesi Primary School Rain Tank Complete!

Givudemesi School in Kenya now has access to a new source of safe, clean water thanks to the completion of their rain tank! 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 will unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

Mercy A., one of Givudemesi's students, said, "This water point will greatly impact my academics. I will now concentrate on my classwork because I will not be requested at some point to go and fetch water."

Mercy in front of the new rain tank.

Mercy added that she's sure the tank will aid her in achieving excellent academic performance. "With water in school, our classrooms will be washed frequently, reducing any chances of contracting any health complications emanating from the uncleanness."

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

Nathan at the new rain tank.

Deputy Head Teacher Nathan Muchella shared how he envisions improvements at the school now that they have safe water on school grounds. "Sending pupils home to fetch water gave them a chance to involve themselves in funny behaviors. With the water point installed in the school, this will be greatly reduced, therefore making my duties lighter. We also expect top-notch hygiene and sanitation standards."

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. Locals helped our artisans with their manual labor, too.

Community members help with construction.

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 the tank, installing 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.

VIP Latrines

This project funded six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, three for the girls and three 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.

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, the facilitators, Elvis Afuya, Amos Emisiko, and Christine Luvandwa deployed to the site to lead the event. Head Teacher Nathan Muchella helped us recruit 23 students to attend the training, which we held under a shady tree in the school's compound.

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 health club's new leaders.

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

Both the teachers and students were eager to learn about soap making. Deputy Head Teacher Nathan Muchella is confident that the school will no longer need to include soap amongst its expenses. Learners promised to adopt the technique and take it up from there.

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.

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.

"The training will definitely impact me," Mercy said. "I have learned how to correctly brush my teeth and generally clean my body. I'm therefore confident that my hygiene will be on a higher level. This will gradually boost my self esteem."

Mercy also shared how the training helped reinforce the lessons she and her classmates had learned about COVID-19. "We will seek to improve on what we have been previously doing. We will wear masks correctly and also wash our hands frequently and correctly as advised by our trainers."

We asked Mercy what it was like to be at home for much of 2020 due to Kenya's national coronavirus-related school closures and what it has been like coming back to school.

Mercy fetching water at the new rain tank.

"My academics were really affected," Mercy explained. "We missed classes for one year. Back at home, we lived with lots of fear that any of our loved ones might contract the virus. I still have worries about the virus. But with the advent of the vaccination program, I am confident it will be a thing of the past. I really missed hanging out with my friends at school and, to be honest, I missed the P.E. (Physical Education) lessons. I am happy that schools were reopened. I'm now sure that I'll move to the next class and move closer to my future dreams."

When an issue arises concerning the rain tank, 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!

November, 2021: Givudemesi Primary School Rain Tank Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Givudemesi 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!