Vincent Feels Safe Drinking Water Now!

October, 2025

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Vincent. Since then, he and the Kaghui Primary School community, comprising 306 students and staff, have had access to clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Now, I like that we have clean water in school. We don’t have to carry water from home anymore. It’s close and easy to fetch, and we don’t have to worry about getting sick from it."

Before the Rain Tank Installation

Like many children in Kenya, 10-year-old Vincent is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task had been stealing her time and negatively affecting him.

A student collects water from the previous small rain tank.

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 Vincent, in particular, it lessened his chances of staying healthy.

"Before the water tank was built, life was really hard. We had to carry water from home every day, and sometimes I would arrive late to school because of that. The water came from scoop holes in the river, and they were far and open, with dirty water. We kept it in jerrycans the whole day at school. I used to get stomachaches often, and I know some of my friends missed school when there was no water to bring," said Vincent.

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 Vincent’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Vincent stands by the rainwater 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 that I feel safe drinking the water. I don’t get sick, and we can wash our hands, as well as clean our classes," exclaimed Vincent.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Vincent and the rest of his community. 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 Vincent a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help Vincent fulfill his dreams.

Children collect water from the large rain tank.

"I no longer get stomachaches like before, and I feel stronger in class. I don’t miss school because of sickness anymore, and I can play with my friends without feeling tired all the time," Vincent said. "I’ve been doing better in class because I come to school on time, and I don’t feel tired or sick anymore. I can concentrate and finish my assignments."

"I use my time to play football with my friends after class and also to read my books. I have more time for rest, which helps me focus more in class," Vincent celebrated.

Students at the school garden, which is made possible by access to water.

Now that Vincent has time to attend school, play, and dream. He has plans for the future.

"I want to be a professional driver when I grow up. I want to drive big trucks and buses and help people travel safely," said Vincent.


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 Kaghui Primary 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 Kaghui Primary 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: 306 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Oct 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/18/2025

Project Features


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Community Profile

The 306 students of Kaghui Primary School struggle to access sufficient water. Without enough safe water, students sacrifice their educations and, ultimately, their futures because they must spend some much time and energy finding and collecting water.

Their only water sources are the too-small rainwater collection tanks on campus and scoop holes in the local dry riverbeds. Unfortunately, collecting water from the riverbeds consumes much of their time, and many students drop out due to the stress.

Field officer Jefferson Mutie shared, "For girls, the situation is especially troublesome. It's typically the responsibility of women to fetch water, thus limiting their access to education and business opportunities. Women and young girls walk a long distance to fetch dirty water for domestic use. This leaves little time for education, which is critical to changing the long-term prospects of developing nations. With the many additional burdens that a lack of clean water brings, education simply becomes less of a priority. This sets up an unfortunate cycle of poverty and inequality as, without proper education, there is little chance of improving one's situation later in life."

12-year-old Lucy T., shown below, knows the challenge well. She has hopes and dreams for her future, but the overwhelming water crisis stands in her way.

"Back last year, when there was a severe drought, I felt like quitting school. I wanted to drop[out] and walk away because the water stress and pressure were too high. If we get water, I hope to achieve my dreams through studying. I would like to become a pilot," Lucy said.

"[The] water situation makes my life hard as the school head. I keep scratching [my] head on where and how to get a reliable source of water for my pupils. I cannot run the school well. I hope we shall have peace in school. Tree planting for fruits in the school shall be a plan we need to implement when we get water. We shall also plant vegetables for us [to] eat [at] the school. With water, we shall have our own feeding program," shared teacher John Mbwaru, 57, seen below.

What's even more heartbreaking is that the water these students work so diligently to collect, often sacrificing their education, makes them sick. Collecting water from the scoop holes at the river (representative photo below), in particular, makes students vulnerable to contamination from animals, rainwater, and human waste.

"When the situation is dire, pupils fetch water from the river, which is dirty and risky to their health. Many times, we get complaints of pupils about their stomach just after taking in this water," Jefferson continued.

Students and teachers alike must make the choice between collecting enough unsafe water and giving up valuable learning time or going without water at all. Life in Kaghui Primary School is disheartening for everyone.

The installation of the 104,000-liter rain tank will enable them to collect more water during the short rainy season, allowing them to not have to travel to the scoop holes at the river, risking their health and safety. Lucy can have the capacity to hope again of achieving her dreams of becoming a pilot and teachers like John can have the tools needed to help their students succeed.

Water at schools is unique, which is why we need unique solutions.

The Proposed Solution, Determined Together...

At The Water Project, everyone has a part in conversations and solutions. We operate in transparency, believing it benefits everyone. We expect reliability from one another as well as our water solutions. Everyone involved makes this possible through hard work and dedication.

In a joint discovery process, community members determine their most advantageous water solution alongside our technical experts. Read more specifics about this solution on the What We're Building tab of this project page. Then, community members lend their support by collecting needed construction materials (sometimes for months ahead of time!), providing labor alongside our artisans, sheltering and feeding the builders, and supplying additional resources.

Water Access for Everyone

This water project is one piece in a large puzzle. In Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, we're working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources that guarantee public access now and in the future within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. One day, we hope to report that this has been achieved!

Training on Health, Hygiene & More

With the community's input, we've identified topics where training will increase positive health outcomes at personal, household, and community levels. We'll coordinate with them to find the best training date. Some examples of what we train communities on are:

  • Improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits
  • Safe water handling, storage & treatment
  • Disease prevention and proper handwashing
  • Income-generation
  • Community leadership, governance, & election of a water committee
  • Operation and maintenance of the water point

Handwashing Stations

Alongside each water source in Southeast Kenya schools, we also provide three new handwashing stations fitted with three taps each, allowing nine students to wash their hands at once. These will allow everyone at the school to wash their hands without running water. Handwashing is so important to help prevent future water-related illnesses in the school community.

The student health club will maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap (which we will teach the school community how to make during the training!).

Project Updates


April, 2025: Clean Water Flowing!

You were a major part of establishing a rain tank at the Kaghui Primary School. When we install rain tanks, it often takes a rainy season for the project to reach its full potential.

We are thrilled to report the rain tank is now filled with water and fully functional, providing abundant water to the school. Thank you for making clean water a reality for these students. By having consistent access to reliable water, their health, energy, learning, and free time are sure to improve!




October, 2024: Kaghui Primary School Rainwater Catchment Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Kaghui Primary School students and staff in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their 104,000-liter rain tank! Additionally, we installed handwashing stations and trained students and staff on sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

Mr. John Mbwaru with students at the completed tank.

"I am very glad that we will now have enough fresh water for our students, and they will no longer need to carry water from home. Adequate water will also enable us to feed our students, and clean our latrines, as well as classrooms regularly. Conducting CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum) projects like agriculture will be possible because we have enough water," said 59-year-old Headteacher John Mbwaru.

Grace.

"Knowing that clean water is readily available at school will eliminate the stress of having to find or carry water from home. This peace of mind will allow me to focus my energy on learning and personal growth rather than worrying about basic needs," said 11-year-old Grace.

Rain Tank Construction

First, we held a meeting with all parents and the school’s 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 a gutter system.

Building materials.

This tank is a whopping 104,000 liters, as it rarely rains in Southeastern Kenya. The more water the tank can store during the seasonal rains, the more water available through the dry months for the students!

Laying the tank 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 rocks and mortar up to seven feet high for the tank's outer walls. With such sturdy construction (the walls are three feet thick!), the tank will stand for a long time.

Finishing the tank construction.

We built a reinforced concrete column in the tank’s center to sustain the roof and prevent it from caving in. We plastered the walls inside and out with waterproof cement and installed guttering into the tank. Finally, we installed the roof of the tank, made of iron sheets and timber with vents to allow rainwater into the tank from the gutters.

The completed tank.

Handwashing Stations

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

Community Education

We trained on health, hygiene, and sanitation topics. These included student health club activities, disease prevention, personal hygiene, and handwashing. We also covered water hygiene, latrine hygiene, and soapmaking.

The pupils and the teachers were introduced to soap making and learned about the materials needed to make soap and the proper procedures.

"The skill of soap making is an important thing for the school, and us as pupils, since we will teach our guardians on the same; that way, they will make soap that will help in performing household chores and bring some income in our families," said 15-year-old Scholar.

"We’ve learned that our healthy lives will be determined by how we maintain good hygiene and hygienic practices. This training will help us prevent diseases through hygienic practices like water treatment, improving food hygiene and handling, proper handwashing, and improving personal hygiene, hence [the] reduction of school absenteeism. We are really grateful for the training and all the teachings that we’ve had in this session; it will bring a great improvement in terms of hygiene in our lives," said Scholar.

Scholar.

"I am hopeful about this school because they were happy about the implementation of the project and were active during construction. The constructed water structure will enable adequate water availability, which will improve the school's student enrollment, academic performance, and maintenance of hygiene practices," said Field Officer Alex Koech.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




August, 2024: Kaghui Primary School Rainwater Catchment Underway!

The lack of adequate water at Kaghui 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!




Project Photos



Contributors

Accelerator Match
5 individual donor(s)