March, 2021: Friends Musiri Secondary School Project Complete!

Friends Musiri 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 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.

"This water point will help me realize the hope for a better future. With this water point in school, I see myself excelling in my examinations as much time will be created for my class studies. Cases of absenteeism for fear of not carrying water to school will now be a thing of the past," said pupil Brendah.

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

"With clean, sufficient water for drinking directly in the school compound, I see myself living a better, healthier life. The water point will improve standards at the school, and this will lead to better academic performance among the students," said Principal Julius Kidambu.

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 a great 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 Principal, Julius Kidambu, shared a thanksgiving prayer for all who helped make the project a reality. Happiness and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of 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.

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

Hygiene and sanitation training was scheduled with the principal's help, who ensured that the training date would be convenient for the school. When the training day arrived, facilitators Samuel Simidi and Victor Musemi deployed to the site to lead the event. 20 students and teachers attended the training, which we held outside under the trees' shade within the school compound. "Hot!" would be ideal to describe the weather condition of the afternoon. The training venue was conducive to physical distancing and enabled effective demonstrations throughout the training stages.

We focused on COVID-19 prevention, transmission, and symptoms while also covering several other topics. These included personal hygiene such as bathing, oral hygiene, the ten steps of handwashing; environmental hygiene; child rights, operation and maintenance of the rain tank, latrines, 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 greatly 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. 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.

The session on kitchen gardening led by Trainer Sam was the most memorable topic. Participants learned how to build these simple gardens using recycled materials, like old plastic bottles and a homemade drip irrigation system. The students were really engaged during this session and were happy having learned of a new tool, which they promised to try out at home.

"Today's training has been timely considering the times we are living in. Much has been said, and we have learned quite a several new things related to good hygiene practices. As a student of this school, I promise to lead other students into healthy habits at school and home to better our lives," said Yvonne, the elected Secretary of the students' new health club.

"The training has shed more light on how I should handle myself so as not to contract the virus. Living a healthy life will ensure that I complete my studies successfully and, in return, live a good life in the future. Being one of the participants, I promise to educate the school and my community at large so that we all live COVID-19 free," said Stephen, the club's elected Chair.

We asked Stephen 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.

"COVID-19 has really dragged me behind in my studies. With schools not in session, l had to forget about my studies and involve myself in the boda boda business (motorbike taxi driving), something not recommended for underage youth. It took the area chief's intervention for me to go back to school to be with the rest of my classmates. This is my first week in school since we opened. Finally, there is hope. Initially, I had felt as if it was all over and that I was to be a full-time boda boda rider in my village," Stephen explained.

"English and mathematics are two of my favorite subjects. I really missed these lessons and their respective teachers. My English teacher is one of my best teachers in school, and I do always miss him whenever we don't get to meet."

"I do watch CNN every day, and to my surprise, this virus is still spreading day after day, and this is alarming. Without strict measures to be observed, we might be swept away. I thank our school management for always being strict in ensuring that every individual in school complies with the set guidelines."

"Every day, we are being encouraged to wear our masks, keep social distance, avoid handshakes, and always wash our hands at any given time. When we get to school, our temperatures are checked to ensure we are okay - this is when we are allowed in our classes."

"Washing of our hands is key during this COVID-19 season. We have been taught the ten steps of handwashing, something we all did not know. As the Chair of the student health club, we will disseminate the training to the entire school family."

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' team 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!

February, 2021: Friends Musiri Secondary School Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Friends Musiri 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!