Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 11/06/2024

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

Early in the morning, students are seen streaming onto school grounds with jerrycans and books balanced on their backs. Morning study hall begins at 6:30AM, and normal classes are at 8AM. Students prepare and clean classrooms for a half hour before the school day starts, though. Lower classes collect litter outside while the upper classes clean the latrines and classrooms.

Ivono Primary School has a total enrollment of 610 students and employs 11 teachers and two supplementary staff. (Editor’s Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people. This school would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.)

Water Situation

Since students are required to bring jerrycans of water to school, they need to go to a water point very early in the morning. Most students stop by a protected spring on the way to school. There's normally quite a line as students collect their water one by one from the discharge pipe. Students carry as large of a container as they can manage, since what they collect is what they have to ration for the entire school day. When there's a critical shortage, some students may have to be sent to the spring again.

Even if clean water flows from the spring, it's likely that water gets dirty on the walk back to school. Students and staff need a source of water on school grounds that saves them time and health. With adequate safe water, they will be able to keep their environment and bodies clean.

Sanitation Situation

Ivono Primary School has 12 latrines. Most of these are in poor condition, and three are already full. Because there are so few latrines, students are still trying to use the latrines with full pits! Open defecation is certainly an issue in this area.

There are no hand-washing stations, and garbage is burned when it piles too high. Headteacher Ernest Mutondo told us that "the three latrines which are full are in a very poor and pathetic condition. It is a big challenge to the pupils who are still using them due to congestion at other latrines. They are not enough, and this is a health hazard." This same teacher is the man who wrote an application requesting a water, sanitation and hygiene intervention.

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training

Parents, teachers, and students will be trained for two days of sessions on hygiene and sanitation.

This training is meant to equip participants with the skills needed to practice good hygiene, and to promote these practices among peers and the greater community. The end goal is to eliminate water and hygiene-related diseases!

The facilitator plans to use PHAST (Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Training), CTC (child to child), discussions, lectures, and demonstrations to teach topics including but not limited to disease transmission, hand-washing, and water treatment. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school.

Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 30,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will be constructed on school grounds. Teachers, students, and parents will gather the 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 CTC club will be responsible for filling the hand-washing containers on a daily basis.

The actions described above will give students an environment that is conducive to learning. This is an opportunity they deserve!

Project Updates


December, 2017: A Year Later: Ivono Primary School

A year ago, generous donors helped build a rainwater catchment system and latrines for Ivono Primary 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 partners, Catherine Chepkemoi and Janet Kayi, 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: Ivono Primary School

December, 2017

I am now practicing good hygiene both in school and at home. I no longer am absent from school when assigned to go looking for water to clean the classrooms and the toilets.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Ivono Primary School.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Ivono Primary School 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 Ivono Primary 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 partners, Catherine Chepkemoi and Janet Kayi, with you.

In Ivono Primary School, life for both pupils and community has improved because when you enter the school, you see pupils enjoying water from the tank to clean their classrooms, toilets and even drinking. You see the community members carrying water out of the school compound to their homes.

Deputy head teacher Sarah Mulindi shared some of the changes she has experienced since the rainwater catchment tank was installed last year. “The project has made both the pupils and community members look at things positively especially on things to do with their health. Cleaning the classrooms, toilets and cooking has become very easy for the school and the pupils because no more time is wasted by pupils going through tough time looking for water to perform their duties. The pupils are now healthy and clean since they acquired knowledge on good hygiene practice.”

We also spoke with 12-year-old Viona Dafine who said her life has changed since the project was completed thus her health and life has generally improved. “I am now practicing good hygiene both in school and at home. I no longer am absent from school when assigned to go looking for water to clean the classrooms and the toilets.”

Within Ivono Primary school, good hygiene practice is evident. The compound is clean, classrooms are clean, and even pupils look smart and clean. The knowledge that the pupils acquired on good hygiene practice during the CTC (child-to-child) training has really helped the pupils to improve their hygiene and health generally.

When we monitor, we will continue encouraging the school to keep the CTC club by supporting them to reach out to other community members in spreading the knowledge on good hygiene practice to improve their health. Children are known to be good agents of change in the African society.

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 Ivono 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 Ivono 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.


Contributors

Project Underwriter - Estate of Rachel Zik
The Doctors of Kehoe Eye Care, PC
4 individual donor(s)