Rehabilitation Project
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
Bumira Secondary School opened in 2011 when community members donated their land. The school now has a student enrollment made up of 101 boys and 121 girls. They employ 13 teachers, two cooks, three security guards, a secretary, and an accounts clerk.
The school borders two different constituencies, Sabatia and Hamisi. Student population is thus from two different tribes, the Maragoli and Tiriki. Fortunately, these two tribes are just two sub-tribes of the Luhiya. There is great cooperation between the two groups.
The school is still constructing more classrooms so as to accommodate other secondary students who are now forced to borrow classrooms from the primary section. Though the overall school has a relatively small compound, plans are underway to purchase more land for future expansion. "Form one and two student classes are located in the primary school, but soon will relocate to the new classes under construction sponsored by the government. This has made other students feel as though they are still in primary school rather than being in a high school, which lowers their ego," said the principal. "We are in the process of putting up a multistory building that will have various rooms such as a laboratory, administration offices, library and store," he excitedly shared.
A normal school day begins at 6AM when students wake up to get ready for study hall that begins at 7AM. There is school assembly at 8AM, when teachers make announcements before regular classes commence. Lunch is from 12:40PM to 1:30PM, and afternoon classes stretch until 4:15PM. Students are required to stay and participate in exercises and sports until 5PM when they are dismissed to return home.
Water Situation
Safe and clean water is nowhere to be found on secondary school grounds. Because they have no water source, students are required to carry water from home in the morning. Sometimes, they are allowed to walk to the primary section to borrow water. When that's used up, students are sent to the nearest river, which happens to be about three kilometers away. Students must spend valuable time not in the classroom, but out fetching dirty water from that river. The principal admits that people bathe, wash clothes, and let animals drink straight from the river.
The school principal, Mr. Rocken Ilahalwa recounts times that he's had to drive to a shopping area to buy water for his school, ferrying them back over the dusty roads.
When water arrives at school, there's nowhere special to store it. Students keep the water they carried in the same container until it is used. After drinking this water, students and staff suffer from waterborne disease.
Sanitation Situation
The secondary section has only two pit latrines of their own, so they have to share with the primary section. The younger children are often forced to the back of the line by the older kids. The little ones often can't stand the wait and rush behind the latrines to relieve themselves.
There are no hand-washing stations so that students can wash their hands after using the latrines, but they're greatly desired.
Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training
Parents, teachers, and students will be trained for at least 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. After our initial assessment of conditions, our facilitator also plans to strongly emphasize the importance of having and using both latrine and hand-washing facilities. 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 50,000-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 (Which they’ve already started doing!). 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. Once construction wraps up, the tank will begin collecting valuable rainwater that we will disinfect with chlorine; water that is safe for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and everything else that students need! Students will no longer waste class time fetching water that often ends up being too dirty for drinking.
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. And with a rainwater catchment tank nearby, there will be enough water to keep them clean.
Plans: Hand-Washing Stations
Two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school before training. These new stations 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 and seeing that there’s enough cleaning agent. They will be able to follow through with this thanks to the water tank on school grounds!
The actions described above will give students an environment that is conducive to learning. It’ll free up so much time that was used going to and from the river. This is an opportunity students deserve!
