Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 347 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - May 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 07/17/2024

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

St. Peter's Compassion Primary School was established by the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of Maseno North in 2007. It began with 208 pupils, and has grown to its current 328 pupils. The school employs 15 teachers and four support staff.

The school is open from Monday to Saturday, with students normally arriving by 7AM when they begin a cleaning routine before assembly. Normal classes go until lunch at 12:30PM and then resume at 1:30PM. They have game time from 3:30PM until 4:30PM when they are sent home.

This school is full of children who are orphans, impoverished, and vulnerable. If a student isn't infected with HIV/AIDS, it's likely they are at least affected by it. Those infected are supported through the provision of nutritional supplements.

Mr. William Osaka is the chairman of the school board, and he is the one who applied for help on behalf of his school. He visited Isabella Spring and learnt of how the people living around there had been given clean water, and immediately wrote a letter to our office.

Water Situation

There is a well on school grounds which entirely dries up from December to March. There is a 1,000-liter plastic storage tank that fills with rainwater, but it is nowhere large enough to serve hundreds of students. Because of this, students are often sent to fetch water from a spring located 200 meters away from school.

To help alleviate the search for water that continues throughout the day, students are required to bring their own containers of water from home. There is no way to verify where this water comes from. What we do know is that this water is contaminated; after drinking it students complain of stomachaches and diarrhea, which are most likely signs of typhoid.

Sanitation Situation

The school has four latrines, allowing for two each gender. The 15 teachers must walk over to the neighboring church to borrow those latrines. The four latrines on school grounds are not enough for the hundreds of students, which results in long lines and wasted time. These latrines are almost full, too.

There are two hand-washing stations, but no soap or ash. There were also helpful tools like dish racks for students to dry their utensils on after lunch. Both students and staff feel positive about hygiene and sanitation, and look forward to the opportunity to learn more.

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. 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 searching for 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 spring. This is an opportunity they deserve!

Mr. Olaka said, "I thank the Almighty God for you identifying this school among many school in the area and entire county for the construction of a water tank and VIP toilets."

Project Updates


November, 2018: A Year Later: St. Peter's Compassion Primary School

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to construct a rainwater catchment tank for St. Peter's Compassion Primary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories. Read more...




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: St. Peter's Compassion Primary School

November, 2018

Students no longer wait in lines to access water and latrines, thanks to the rainwater catchment tank and latrines constructed a year ago.

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Compassion 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, your generous donation enabled us to construct a rainwater catchment tank for St. Peter's Compassion Primary School in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – and we’re excited to share this one from local team member Mary Afandi with you.


Overall, the water and sanitation facilities have contributed to improved water access and overall sanitation standards at the school. As a result, fewer cases of disease outbreaks are reported. The facilities have also improved the general infrastructure at the school.

There is no lining up at the water tank when there is water, since the water is sufficient and the discharge is good. Also, there are plenty of VIP latrines to serve the students. There is no congestion during break time or lunch time when pupils go out to answer the call of nature.

"There was remarkable improvement in the performance of the pupils academically," Teacher Mark Okinyi said to us during a recent visit.

Mark Okinyi

These changes have been made possible by the construction of the tank and VIP latrines at the school. Based on our recent visit, we believe the school is committed to ensure that the water and sanitation facilities are well maintained.

Construction of the tank is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This tank in St. Peter's Compassion Primary School is changing many lives.

"The water tank, the VIP latrines and the handwashing facilities have all contributed to minimizing wastage of time. More time is now available for studies," 14-year-old student Medina Achieng said to us.

Medina Achieng

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise 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 Compassion 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 Compassion 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

Weil Aquatronics, Inc.
Arnold Foundation
William S & Blair Y Thompson Family Foundation
The Davissons, Daveys, and Benders
Scandinavians for Life
Bob & Norma Morrison
Bruns Christmas Gift
The Campbell's of Columbia, MO
Lee and Cheryl Bennett
Mullaney, Lee and Martin Families
67 individual donor(s)