Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 235 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Aug 2016

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/07/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

This project is a part of our shared program with Western Water and Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO). Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).

Welcome to the School

Chambiti Secondary is a mixed day school located in Chambiti Village, Chambiti sub-location, Chambiti location, Vihiga Constituency in Vihiga County. The school was started in 2011 with only an early education department. The school grew from there, and now the secondary student population is 220, comprised of 99 boys and 121 girls. Chambiti Secondary also employs 11 teachers and four supporting staff.

Students report to school very early in the morning, but their first activity is to fetch water from the spring. The rest of the day is filled with class as usual, interrupted by short breaks and lunch. Chambiti Secondary is located far from traffic and busyness, making it a secluded area that is conducive to learning.

The school applied for a water project when three of their latrines were condemned after a recent health inspection visit.

Water Situation

The school has no reliable, protected source of water of its own. Students get water from a nearby protected spring which is also used by local households.

The school has a 4000-liter plastic storage tank that was donated by the European Union. Even if students managed to fill it every morning, it could hardly meet a day’s needs. Students are forced to break from classes to fetch water from the nearby protected spring, to which the school contributes 500 shillings monthly for maintenance. “This has scared parents and other boys and girls from joining this institution for they believe that a high school student ought not to fetch water from the spring to use in school,” the principal shared, “This practice is wasting much of our study time and has downgraded the school and lowered their all round performance.” “It is very shameful for Chambiti Primary School to look far much better than us, with enough latrines and many classrooms,” a cook at the school added in a bitter tone. “If there is any interventions from a donor, please beg them on our behalf to come to our rescue and save us this shame!”

Sanitation Situation

The school was initially sharing sanitation facilities with the primary section, but it managed to gradually build a few sanitation facilities of its own. Currently, the school has six doors of VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines per gender and one urinal pit for boys. However, a latrine block of three doors has collapsed and was thus condemned by the public health team. The teachers have two doors over a single pit that serve both genders.

The school has one hand-washing station for students to use, but it was evident that the hand-washing culture is poor since the hand-washing station is situated far from the latrines. Nor did it have enough water, and it was missing a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.

Despite the difficult situations faced, the school’s attitude towards sanitation and hygiene is very positive. Classrooms were clean, and it was obvious that they are swept and mopped often.

Student Cynthia Nafulo said, “The greatest challenges we have are the shortages of adequate latrines for use, and poor uptake of hand-washing messages due to lack of clear knowledge on the importance, time and methodology to practice hand hygiene by the majority of the community members."

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training

Students and staff will be trained over two days using Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Training (PHAST), Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) methods. Training will include group discussions, lectures, presentations, handouts, a transect walk, and demonstrations. Training will also result in the formation of a child to child (CTC) club which will be responsible for demonstrating and promoting good hygiene and sanitation in Chambiti Secondary School.

Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 30,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will be constructed on school grounds. Teachers, students, and parents will gather local materials needed for this project, including sand, ballast, bricks, and hardcore. This contribution will fuel a sense of responsibility for the school and community to take care of their new facilities. Once materials are mobilized, the WEWASAFO team will arrive to lead the construction effort.

Plans: VIP Latrines

Two triple-door latrines will be constructed, providing three new latrines for each gender. Latrine materials will be mobilized the same way as the tank, ensuring the school feels these facilities are truly theirs.

Plans: Hand-Washing Stations

Two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school before training. These come in the form of two 60-liter containers fitted with a tap. The training facilitator will demonstrate how to properly wash hands, and then students will have a chance to practice in groups. The child to child (CTC) club will be responsible for filling the hand-washing containers on a daily basis.

Chambiti Secondary School is ready and willing to do whatever necessary to make this water, sanitation and hygiene project a success!

Project Updates


December, 2017: A Year Later: Chambiti Secondary School

A year ago, generous donors helped build a rainwater catchment system and latrines for Chambiti Secondary School in Kenya. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Samuel Simidi, with you.




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: Chambiti Secondary School

December, 2017

There is sufficient clean water in our tank so students no longer have to walk to fetch water from the nearby spring. Students are even able to observe personal hygiene (like hand-washing) due to the training they attended on sanitation and hygiene.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Chambiti Secondary School Rainwater Catchment Project.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Chambiti Secondary School Rainwater Catchment Project 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!

A year ago, generous donors helped build a rainwater catchment system and latrines for Chambiti Secondary School in Kenya. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Samuel Simidi, with you.


Enrollment has spiked since the surrounding communities heard that Chambiti Secondary School now has clean water. Classrooms are clean and students feel comfortable in a conducive learning environment. Study time is no longer wasted since there are sufficient sanitation facilities and clean water available on school grounds.

Students use the tank's water to irrigate their agriculture project.

Samuel met with Headteacher Ojinda for his visit to the school, to hear from her what changes she's witnessed over the past year. She said, "There has been an enrollment increase of 31 students in 2017, for there is sufficient clean water in our tank so students no longer have to walk to fetch water from the nearby spring. Students are even able to observe personal hygiene (like hand-washing) due to the training they attended on sanitation and hygiene." But she also admitted that though the increased enrollment is wonderful, "very soon the consumption rate of water will be too high and the sanitation facilities not sufficient."

Faith Atunda at the rainwater catchment tank.

17-year-old Faith Aronda is a student at Chamibiti Secondary School. She told Samuel that there's always sufficient water for what she needs, and that she's been able to practice personal hygiene. Her performance in exams has improved this year because she has been able to save time... Check out the video below to watch Faith's interview for yourself!


The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to 4 times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.


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 Chambiti Secondary School Rainwater Catchment Project 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 Chambiti Secondary School Rainwater Catchment Project – 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.

Faith Arunda's Interview


Contributors

St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Parish
Research Africa / FLNT+TNDR
Baylor African Student Association
Fort Mill High School Concert Chorus
DST Natchez Alumnae Chapter
Cedar Catholic High School
Delaware County Community College
Whitefish Girl Scout Troop 3363
Sport Bites
18 individual donor(s)