Kithaalani Primary School

February, 2024: Kithaalani Primary School Rain Tank Complete!

Kithaalani 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.

Staff and students celebrate the new rain tank!

Teacher Agnes Vaundi, 39, shared her excitement about the rain tank. "It will feel great teaching in a clean classroom because this water point will offer enough water to clean our classrooms. I will also have a clean source of drinking water, and meals will be prepared on time; thus, I will be able to teach the learners with much ease, which was difficult in the past because I had to bear with thirst, especially in the afternoon when the heat was unbearable. We will also grow fruit trees, which will supplement our learner's diet."

Teacher Agnes Vaundi.

"I am very happy because the learners will no longer be exposed to water-related infections like amoeba and typhoid. They will drink clean water and always [be] present in school. The reduced absenteeism means we will have higher learner retention and subsequently better academic performance. We will also excel in the agriculture subject because we have enough water to irrigate crops and conduct practicals," Agnes continued.

The children were just as excited as the adults!

"I am glad that I will now be able to drink clean water whenever I can and meals will [be] prepared on time. It was frustrating in the past to resume the afternoon classes [on] an empty stomach because meals would often delay. It will also feel great to learn in a conducive and comfortable environment that is clean. We will be mopping classes on a regular schedule because there is enough water," 14-year-old David M. shared when asked how the new rain tank has impacted his experience at school.

David (right) drinking clean water with a classmate!

"I would often [get] sick in the past because we had to drink water mostly acquired from the dam that was often shared with animals who would excrete in the water. I got sick every term more than twice or thrice due to water-related infections. I felt sad going home because I used to miss a lot of school. It is a great relief to know that I will be drinking clean water and always [be] present in school. My grades will improve, and I will be able to achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer," David continued.

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.

Materials collected.

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.

Setting the base of the rain tank.

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 for a long time.

Constructing the walls.

We built a reinforced concrete column up to the tank's center, which holds 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.

The completed rain tank!

Handwashing Stations

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

Students washing their hands.

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.

The training was a great success! In total, there were 226 students and seven teachers. The children varied in age from four to fourteen years old. It was held on the school compound, and even though there wasn't enough shade to cover everyone, the students were engrossed in the topics. They were so engaged the training went longer than planned, though no one seemed to mind as the students soaked up the new knowledge.

A big training, a big success!

A topic that was particularly engaging for the students was something called "two-pile sorting." This lesson involves sorting posters with behaviors on them into "good" and "bad" behavior piles. This exercise aims to challenge the student's habits and see where they can practice better hygiene to reduce illness and absenteeism.

Two pile sorting lessons.

Once students had learned about hygiene and sanitation practices, it was time to develop an action plan. This was a joint effort by teachers and students, brainstorming ways to improve their personal hygiene and school environment.

David (quoted above) was excited about the new opportunities his new knowledge would provide. "This training will be of great importance to us since we have learned a lot of things. It will have a positive impact on our lives because we are going to improve a lot as far as hygiene and sanitation is concerned. We did not know that it is important to wash hands after visiting [the] latrine, but now we know. The only time we were serious with handwashing was during [the] COVID-19 epidemic, and since then, a lot of us have relaxed and do not take the action seriously."

David learning how to make soap.

"The transmission routes of diseases have enlightened us so much as well. We know the transmission routes and how to block the routes, and this will help us prevent possible diseases from human feces. This will help us prevent diseases [in school] and [in] our families. Personal hygiene will be improved since we now understand what is expected of us and all the hygiene practices. We will make our school compound look better [by] improving its hygiene," he concluded.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. 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 Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, we're working toward complete coverage. That means 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, 2024: Kithaalani Primary School Rainwater Catchment Project Underway!

The lack of adequate water at Kithaalani Primary School costs students time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!