Clean Water Enables Learning!

March, 2025

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

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Gladys. Since then, she and the Mumbuni Secondary School of 149 students have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"What I love most is that we no longer have to struggle for water. The tank provides clean, safe water right here at the school. It’s readily available whenever we need it, whether for drinking, cleaning, or cooking. This convenience has made a big difference in our lives."

Before the Rain Tank Installation

Like many teachers in Southeast Kenya, Gladys Kilonzo was responsible for supervising her student's collection of water to meet the school's daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her and her students.

Students hauling water before the rain tank installation.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in the community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant people wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Gladys, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to complete her daily teaching tasks.

"Before the rainwater tank was installed, water shortages created major disruptions in our daily routines. Students often had to wait for water to be supplied before resuming after-lunch classes or games, delaying programs and wasting valuable learning time. Meal preparation was also frequently delayed, especially during drought seasons, as the water sources we relied on were seasonal. Parents were sometimes required to bring water to school at a cost of Ksh 20 per jerrycan. Unfortunately, the water came from contaminated scoop holes, which exposed students to diseases like typhoid, amoeba, and dysentery," said 34-year-old teacher Gladys Kilonzo.

"Fetching water before the project was stressful, expensive, and time-consuming. We had to rely on seasonal sources, and when they dried up, we turned to contaminated scoop holes or depended on parents to bring water to school. This was not only inconvenient but a constant source of worry for us as teachers because of the health risks to the students," she continued.

Since the Rain Tank Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this community and Gladys' future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Students collect water from the rain tank.

Reliable and clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"The best thing is the peace of mind that comes with knowing the water is safe and always available. We no longer worry about students getting sick from contaminated water or running out of water during critical times. Clean water has improved the overall environment, making the school healthier and more conducive to learning," said Ms. Kilonzo.

"The students’ lives have improved tremendously. They now have enough clean water for drinking, washing, and cleaning. They no longer have to bear with thirst or delayed meals due to water insufficiency, which means they can focus fully on their studies. The reduction in waterborne illnesses has resulted in better student retention and performance in class. They’ve been able to participate in new activities like farming and tree planting, which are both educational and enjoyable," she exclaimed.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Gladys and the rest of Mumbani Secondary School. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect the system hardware, track water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water quality samples to identify risks. We work with our team on the ground to resolve them.

You gave Gladys a crucial tool for achieving her dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, her enthusiasm and courage will help fulfill dreams.

"As teachers, we no longer spend time organizing water supply solutions during shortages. This allows us to focus entirely on teaching. With water readily available, the school is cleaner, and the students are healthier and more attentive. The improved environment has made teaching much more rewarding and less stressful," shared Gladys.

Students in the school gardens.

"The school has made significant progress. We’ve set up a small farm where we grow pearl millet. This has been an excellent learning opportunity for the students and supplements their diet. Additionally, with the reduced water expenses, we’ve been able to channel funds toward learning materials and other important school resources, further improving the quality of education," she concluded.

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 Mumbuni 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 Mumbuni 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.

Project Status



Project Type: Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 149 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 02/18/2025

Project Features


Click icons to learn about each feature.



Community Profile

The 149 students and staff of Mumbuni Secondary School face a water crisis every day.

The school has a couple of water options, but neither of them is ideal or sufficient to meet the needs of the school, leaving everyone thirsty and wasting valuable time and resources that should be focused on learning and preparing for bright futures.

The school administrators have two choices: they can either purchase water from expensive vendors or use the salty, contaminated water from a community borehole that is piped into the school. Understandably, both options present significant issues.

Purchasing water is expensive and drains the school's already meager budget, causing administrators to make difficult decisions that regularly mean eliminating important learning opportunities for students.

The water from the well, especially during peak drought periods, cannot be used for cooking or drinking, and the small rainwater tanks on the school campus that collect and hold the water are too small to hold enough water for everyone. And during the short rainy season, it is not uncommon for the piping system to wash out and leave the school stranded without water from the well until it can be fixed.

"The water we are drinking is salty, and we are unsure of the sources. This exposes us to infections like typhoid and amoeba. Using salty water also affects [the] skin. Thus, various students have had to seek medication leading to absenteeism and, ultimately, poor academic performance," said 52-year-old headteacher John Kabanda (seen below).

Without sufficient water on campus, not only are the students and staff left thirsty and school meals delayed, but personal hygiene and the overall sanitation of the school are negatively affected. And sadly, when students are thirsty and hungry, and the environment is dirty, it is that much more difficult for them to concentrate and learn.

"In addition to the necessity of water to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, reducing student dehydration in schools has been associated with improved cognitive abilities." - UNICEF and WHO

"Agriculture projects are stalled due to water inadequacy. Also, we cannot wash our classrooms, often leading to uncomfy conditions during learning," said 19-year-old student Bernard (seen below).

The installation of the proposed 104,000-liter rainwater tank will ensure the school has enough clean water for drinking, so students are not exposed to water-related infections that often lead to absenteeism. The school's water expenses will also reduce, and the funds can then be allocated to improving the school's facilities and the student's overall academic experience.

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


March, 2024: Mumbuni Secondary School Rainwater Catchment Complete!

Mumbuni 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.

"I will have enough water for drinking and washing my hands after visiting the latrine. I will also be more attentive in class because I can easily drink clean water whenever I want, unlike before when I would have to bear with thirst. I will also no longer [be] exposed to stomach pains or amoeba because I will be drinking clean water. We will also be washing our classrooms and latrines on a regular schedule because we will [have] enough water. This will create an impressive and tidy learning environment, and I will be able to improve my grades. Meals in school will also be prepared on time because there is enough water, and I will not have to resume my classes on an empty stomach again," said 16-year-old Zachariah M.

Zachariah.

"I am very happy about this waterpoint because our students will now have [a] clean source of water, unlike before when we used to depend on water from rivers, which was mostly unclean. I will also be drinking clean water, unlike when I had to purchase my own water," said 43-year-old teacher Josphat Mutuku.

Josphat.

"We will have enough water to clean our classrooms and latrines, which will create a conducive and sanitary learning environment for all of us. Teaching students will be easier because [we] will always be present and active in class. They will no longer [be] absent looking for treatment due to water-related infections. Our students will also excel and perform better academically because they will always be present in school and free from distractions such as thirst. We will also be able to store enough water to sustain us during the drought period because we will be using this tank as a reservoir for the harvested rain. Our tree cover in the school will also increase because we will be planting trees and irrigating them," continued Josphat.

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.

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.

Starting the 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 for a long time.

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.

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 soapmaking.

The students were especially excited about the session that taught them how to make soap. They were happy because the process does not require an expert to prepare the solution or expensive machines to prepare it. Anyone can make it with the right knowledge.

"Cleanliness is the first law of health. We shall not defeat any infectious diseases plaguing the developing world until we have won the battle of safe drinking water, sanitation, and basic health care. Hygiene and sanitation are matters of education, and like most great things, they ought to cultivate a taste for them. Good hygiene is all about keeping yourself and your environment clean. Hygiene is essential for preventing diseases and maintaining good health. Excellent personal hygiene is also needed for maintaining social relationships," said 16-year-old Mary N.

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: Mumbuni Secondary School Rain Tank Underway!

The lack of adequate water at Mumbuni Secondary 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!




Project Photos



Contributors

8 individual donor(s)