February, 2023: Tii Primary School Rain Tank Complete!

Tii Primary 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.

"I will no longer be carrying water to school, which often leaves me exhausted and unable to fully concentrate on my classes," said 11-year-old Purity. "There will be enough clean water for drinking, which will also improve my health. Meals will now be prepared on time, and I will not resume classes hungry or thirsty because this rainwater tank will store enough water to sustain all of us. Although our classes are mostly bare with no concrete, we will be dusting them regularly to promote a more comfortable learning environment. I will also have enough time to study and play with my friends because water is readily available in our school."

Purity beside the new rain tank.

"Carrying water every day to school is a daunting ordeal, and I am glad that will no longer be the case," Purity continued. "Besides, the water was previously acquired from contaminated sources and stored in unclean jerrycans, which often caused stomach upsets. I will now have enough time and energy to learn and play with my friends. I will be comfortable in class, and my grades will soar higher because I will no longer be affected by stomach issues, hunger, or thirst."

"There will be enough drinking water in the school, and students will no longer be carrying water from home because clean water will be available," said 46-year-old teacher Ann Mwende Munyithia.

Ann.

"[Our] time wastage will be reduced because of the proximity of the tank, and the consumption of clean water will ensure our pupils are healthy," Ann continued. "In the past, they could carry water from home in their unclean jerrycans. The water was also drawn from contaminated sources, such as scoop holes, which exposed the pupils to water-related maladies like typhoid, amoeba, and dysentery.

"Student retention will now improve because pupils will not be absent from school due to reasons like water-related infections or water scarcity. The pupils will also be able to clean their classrooms and latrines, which will culminate in better comfort and enhanced attention during learning. I will also be able to easily drink clean water throughout the entire school session because this waterpoint's large capacity will sustain the entire school populace during the long drought periods."

Ann celebrates clean water with her students.

"We plan to plant kale and spinach in the school because we have enough water for irrigation," Ann said. "This will supplement the pupils' diet and promote better health. We will also plant more trees in the school to ensure the learning environment is conducive for everyone. Apart from [the] overall improvement of academic performance, our students will be able to conduct agriculture practical [exams], which will equip them with pertinent skills. Our school will also attract more pupils because of the conducive learning environment (thanks to water availability). Therefore, the literacy levels in this community will improve."

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.

Stones gathered for construction.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 soap-making.

Soap-making was the students' favorite topic, and the administration was also keen on this lesson as it will help the school save money and prevent them from having to buy soap in the future. During the lesson, the students produced 40 liters each of hand soap and latrine disinfectant.

"The lack of proper hygiene and sanitation practices remains a challenge today, but one which can be brought under control," said 12-year-old Kleni, who is a member of the school's new child health club.

"The children of today will be the adults and citizens of 2025, central to the future vision of a clean and healthy world," Kleni continued. "They will be the inheritors of an improved environment. Today’s interventions, through the school system, are directly focused on the child’s impact on his/her chances of growing to be a healthier and happier person. By focusing on children today, by giving those tools and knowledge to change behaviors today, future generations can be stronger and healthier."

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, 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 their local field officers to assist them.

Also, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program. We walk with each community, problem-solving together when they face challenges with functionality, seasonality, or water quality. Together, all these components help us strive for 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!

January, 2023: Tii Primary School Rain Tank Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Tii 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!