Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 124 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jun 2022

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/26/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Although Musosya Mixed Secondary School has two rain tanks to serve the school's 124 students and 13 staff members, they are quickly emptied in the dry season. When the rain tanks are dry, students fetch water from an open source a kilometer away, eating up 15 minutes of class time each way.

Even when the rain tanks are full, the water they supply is unsuitable for drinking. The school's iron sheets that collect the rainwater are worn out and rusty, which can cause water contamination.

"The water scarcity in the school has reduced student attendance because some of them get tired and forego learning altogether due to the water challenges," said Bernard Mutune, the school's Head Teacher (pictured below). "The school performance has waned."

"I have to wake up early to go fetch water before coming to school, which leaves me exhausted," said Charles M., a 17-year-old student (pictured below). "[I]cannot fully concentrate on my academic performance. Due to the contaminated water from the existing rainwater tanks and surface water, I sometimes develop stomach aches, making it uncomfortable to learn."

Another problem caused by water scarcity is poor hygiene. Without water to fill the handwashing stations or clean the latrines, the students' health issues become even worse.

Bernard explained: "Maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation has also been difficult, which exposes us to infections such as COVID-19, because we even lack water for the handwashing stations."

"The poor hygiene and sanitation in the school leads to foul smells from the latrines, which sticks on my garments after using the toilets," Charles added.

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

A total of 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, allowing 9 students to wash their hands at once. 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


June, 2022: Musosya Mixed Secondary School Rain Tank Complete!

Musosya Mixed Secondary School in Kenya now has access to a new safe, clean water source thanks to the completion of their 104,000-liter rain tank! In addition, we installed handwashing stations and trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to live better, healthier lives.

Excited students.

"Being in a semi-arid [area] means the school administration spends a lot of funds on water expenses. The set up of this water point means those funds will now be allocated to improving my students' academic performance. We will also be no longer exposed to infections such as typhoid, amoeba, or dysentery since this water point offers clean water, unlike the previous water source that was open to animal and human contamination," said teacher Dennis Ongeri, 28.

19-year-old student Josephine said, "My academic performance will soar higher because I will have more time and energy to concentrate on my studies which will place me in better career opportunities in the future. This will be possible because the water point is within the school and provides clean water that inhibits exposure to infections such as typhoid, amoeba, or dysentery."

Rain Tank Construction Process

First, we held a meeting with all parents and the school headteacher to plan the project. The parents agreed to collect construction materials like sand, rocks, and water. We complemented their materials by delivering the expertise, tools, lumber, metal, cement, and gutter system.

Community members helping.

This tank is a whopping 104,000 liters because of how rarely it rains in Southeastern Kenya. Therefore, the more water the tank can store during the seasonal rains, the more water will be available through the dry months for the students.

Foundation.

Construction for this large rain tank is much like constructing a concrete house. First, we leveled the ground for foundation excavation. Next, we laid alternating layers of impermeable rocks and mortar up to seven feet high for the tank's outer walls. With such sturdy construction (the walls have internal and external diameters of 25 and 28 feet, respectively!), the tank will stand a long time.

Building the walls.

We built a reinforced concrete column right up to the tank’s center, which holds up the roof and prevents it from caving in. We then plastered the walls inside and out with waterproof cement. After that, we installed guttering and channeled it into the tank. Finally, we installed the roofing, made of iron sheets and timber with vents to allow rainwater into the tank from the gutters.

Completed and painted rain tank.

Handwashing Stations

We delivered three new handwashing stations in time for training. Each of these new stations has three taps so that nine students can wash their hands simultaneously.

New handwashing station.

New Knowledge

We trained on a variety of health, hygiene, and sanitation topics. These included student health club activities, disease transmission and prevention, personal hygiene, handwashing, water hygiene, food hygiene, latrine hygiene, and soapmaking.

Session on how to make soap.

Student Peter M., 18, said, "I have learnt and understood that most of the diseases are related to bad hygiene and behavior. If we improve our daily behaviors and adhere to what has been trained, we will be on the safe side."

Peter.

He continued, "We will train our parents how to make soap and kerol (detergent), help them in preparing [it], sell the soap, and make money to pay our school fees and enable them to cater for our basic needs back at home. I am sure this will help in [the] reduction of poverty levels at homes."

Student Health Club.

Pupils enjoyed learning different methods of water treatment and were surprised to learn that open defecation contaminates their drinking water. They mentioned they planned to teach their guardians about the precautions one should take when handling water to prevent contamination.

Students learning. 

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our partners, and the community members themselves. 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. We have an ongoing commitment to walk with each community, cooperatively problem-solving when they face challenges of any kind: with functionality, seasonality, or water quality issues. With all these components together, we strive to ensure enduring access to reliable, clean, and safe water for this community.

With your contribution, one more piece has been added to a large puzzle of water projects. In our target areas, we’re working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. With this in mind, search through our upcoming projects to see which community you can help next!

Thank you for making all of this possible!




May, 2022: Musosya Mixed Secondary School Rain Tank Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Musosya Mixed 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: "I can easily quench my thirst, thanks to the sufficient, clean water!"

June, 2023

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

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Musosya Mixed 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!

Eunice N., 15, recalled what life was like at Musosya Mixed Secondary School before her school's raintank was installed last year.

"I used to go fetch water at the distant earth dam, which could only offer contaminated water, but we had to bear with the situation. The daily walk in search of water was also arduous, making it difficult to focus on my studies," said Eunice.

Eunice continued, "I would often contract water-related infections, which forced me to abscond classes leading to dismal academic results. Conducting my own personal hygiene was challenging due to the scant availability of water, and being a girl, it affected my self-esteem and confidence."

But life is much more favorable for Eunice and the other students at Musosya Mixed Secondary School now.

"We no longer have to go fetch water or depend on our parents to avail water in the school. Meals are prepared on time. I can easily quench my thirst, thanks to the sufficient clean water!" Eunice said.

"I am always present in class because I am free from distractions such as water-related infections. My academic grades have improved because there is enough time and energy to study, thanks to the close proximity of the rainwater tank," said Eunice.

Having ready access to water from the raintank has made a difference for Eunice, allowing her time to focus on learning and the confidence to interact with others more freely.

"I can now conduct proper personal hygiene on a regular schedule which has improved my confidence when playing or chatting with my friends. Apart from improved personal hygiene, we clean our classrooms regularly, which has ensured a conducive learning environment," concluded Eunice.

Thank you for helping Eunice access clean water and have the freedom to concentrate on things that are important to her.

Right now, there are others just like her in neighboring communities that desperately need safe water access. Your support will immediately go to work to provide a clean water project - and we can't wait to introduce you to the next person you'll help.

Eunice filling her glass with water from the raintank.


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 Musosya Mixed 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 Musosya Mixed 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

1 individual donor(s)