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
In 1999 as they watched their children leave on faraway journeys to school, the ADC (African Divine Church) felt the need to have a school of their own. Most of these students had to drop out of school because they would get to school late after the long trek and suffer punishment from teachers.
The church was so dedicated to the idea of having a school that they decided to give up their permanent church hall and kitchen as the first classrooms so that learning could begin. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but they struggled to contribute their hard-earned money and own strength to bake bricks and mine ballast to build three more classrooms.
Early in the morning by 6:50AM, all pupils of ADC Chanda Primary School must be within the school compound or else punishment awaits them. Classrooms and offices must be swept and the compound well-cleaned before starting the 30-minute morning preps. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, there are no assemblies to raise the Kenyan flag, so morning preps stretch out to fill an hour.
At 12:40PM, children go back home to eat lunch in order to return by 1:30 for afternoon sessions. There are also class discussions led by one pupil at a time up until 4PM. Once class is dismissed at four, students are required to either play games or join in club meetings to develop these children's talents. A bell is rung every evening at 5PM for students to return home as the security guard arrives to watch the compound at night.
Water Situation
The 10,000-liter plastic tank in the compound doesn't even hold enough water for cleaning classrooms. Therefore, mud carried on children’s shoes dries and makes classes dirty until the weekly cleaning. This explains why jiggers have infested this entire institution, with some children missing classes due to pain in their feet and toes caused by those parasites.
On the hard copy of the school timetable, there is no time allocated for fetching water. However, from time to time lessons have to be interrupted for the children to rush to the spring in shifts. Pupils carry water back in jerrycans with no covers, and water spills on them as they lift it to their heads and as they jostle it along the way. They reach school with wet clothes that dries as they continue with lessons.
Farming is also done close to the spring, so it is likely that fertilizers and other chemicals are washed into the water when it rains. It is normal for students to suffer from diarrhea after drinking the water. "When we bring that water, we take it to the staffroom to be used by teachers, therefore we do not remain with water to drink, let alone washing hands," one student complained.
Sanitation Situation
All employees have one latrine door for gentlemen and one for ladies. Six functional latrine doors are for each gender of student. This is not adequate and pupils have to wait for a long time in line to ease themselves. "When the bell goes, a teacher has to stop immediately because every child runs to reach latrines fast and avoid waiting for long at the entrance," the deputy headteacher explained. He further shared that the very first latrines donated by the church are too old and dangerous to use, and the walls have collapsed and now provide no privacy for their users.
These children also need a thorough health and hygiene training. Jigger fleas are dangerous parasites that can result in lameness and thus dropping out of school. What's worse is that these are contagious! The school has already had thirty children infected, and the deputy headteacher fears that it will soon infect the entire school if it is not properly addressed by professionals. "We can only tell them to maintain cleanliness to avoid jiggers, but we do not know how to cure those parasites. They are spreading like wildfire. It was two children at the beginning and now the number has already shot to thirty, and these are the few that could be seen. How about those ones in upper classes that fear to accept that they are infected and then hide their feet in shoes so that we do not realize! The worst bit is that they step in our dirty latrines with bare feet that are infected; I just cannot tell exactly how sick our children may be. For sure they are in danger, please help us," the deputy headteacher concluded.
Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training and Hand-Washing Stations
Training will be held for two days. The facilitator will use PHAST (participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation), ABCD (asset-based community development), CTC (child to child), lectures, group discussions, and handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good practices within the school. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school. This CTC club will oversee the new facilities, such as hand-washing stations, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school, and the club will fill them with water on a daily basis and make sure there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.
Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank
A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will be constructed on school grounds. Teachers, students, and parents will gather the 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.
With adequate clean water, the school will have water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hand-washing.
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.
School administration and parents are positive that with these new facilities and training, their students’ academic performance will improve. Students will be healthy and empowered to focus on what’s important!
