Project Status



Project Type:  Rainwater Catchment

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 477 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Oct 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 10/09/2024

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

The Ebukanga Secondary students must report to school by 8AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but many arrive earlier to study. On the remaining week days, normal classes start at 7AM. Lunch is from 1-2PM, and afternoon classes go until 4:30PM.

Most students come from very poor households who cannot afford school fees. To help, school administration decided to accept any form of payment: trees for firewood, beans, maize, and chickens are common items given to the school. Local political leaders have also invested as much as they can; there is a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that has paid for painting classrooms and building a dining hall. A member of the Kenyan Parliament is also helping by supplementing children's school fees, which in turn helps pay the teachers' salaries. This same member of parliament has donated 10 desktop computers so that students can learn basic skills.

Principal Jeremiah Andayi told us that his goal is "not to force every students to get grade A by the end of their learning, but to grant every needy child a chance to go through the education system and change their destiny for the better." However, there is a severe water shortage that impedes this goal.

Water Situation

The school purchased a 6,000-liter plastic tank to catch water when it rains. But between cooking, drinking, cleaning, and science lab, a full tank is barely enough for one day of school. When emptied, the tank acts as storage for water fetched from other sources. To keep students from having to leave school during the day, the principal decided to pay people to deliver buckets of water. These people collect water from nearby sources, most of which are open springs. There's no way for the school to know if the water they are receiving is safe.

At least 1,000 shillings a day are spent to buy water, but this isn't enough. Principal Andayi said that "students fight over water, and others dip their dirty utensils into the common source as they draw it for drinking purposes. We sympathize with them and simply say 'water has no bad heart.' We live by the grace of God. Because of water shortages, some students leave their utensils unwashed and still use them during the next meal."

Sanitation Situation

There are six pit latrines, all of which are dirty, smelly, and clogged up. In a couple of latrines, students had even missed the hole in the floor.

There is only one hand-washing station set aside for almost 500 people, but it is rarely filled with water.

The school and its students do their best to keep the compound and its classrooms neat, and the cooks wear appropriate clothes to keep the food clean. With an adequate water source on school grounds, students will be able to wash their hands, wash their utensils, and keep their environment clean.

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: VIP Latrines

Two triple-door latrines will be constructed with local materials that the school will help gather. Three doors will serve the girls while the other three serve the boys. And with a new source of water on school grounds, students and staff should have enough to keep these new latrines clean.

Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank

A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will help alleviate the water crisis at this school. The school will also help gather the needed materials such as sand, rocks, and water from the spring for mixing cement. Once finished, this tank can begin catching rainfall that will be used by the school’s students and staff. Water of unknown quality will no longer be paid for by the school, for they will soon have safe water at their doorstep.

We and the school strongly believe that with this assistance, standards will significantly improve. These higher standards will translate to better health, better academic performance, and a better quality of life.

Project Updates


November, 2018: A Year Later: Ebukanga Secondary School

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to construct a rainwater catchement tank for Ebukanga Secondary 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...




October, 2017: Ebukanga Secondary School Project Complete

Ebukanga Secondary School in Kenya now has a new source of safe, clean water thanks to your generous donation. A new rainwater catchment system has been built, and there are now six new latrines being used. Two hand-washing stations have been installed, and students have received training in sanitation and hygiene. Just imagine the difference these resources will make in the lives of these children!

You made it happen, now help keep the water flowing! Join our team of monthly donors and help us maintain this rainwater catchment tank and many other projects.

The report below from our partner gives the latest details of the project. We also just updated the project page with new pictures.

Project Result: New Knowledge

Hygiene and sanitation training was organized with the help of school administration. They chose students from each grade, teachers, and parents to invite. The teachers and student leaders will form a CTC (child to child) health club that's in charge of promoting health on campus and maintaining the new facilities. 16 participants ended up meeting us in the school dining hall for our sessions.

1 kenya4667 training

We taught an entire lesson on management and maintenance of the new tank and latrine facilities. Regular checking and cleaning of the gutter system is a must! It’s also important to treat the water while it is still in the tank. We also covered topics including but not limited to:

– Water pollution and water treatment

– Personal and environmental hygiene

– Group dynamics, leadership, and governance

– Forming an effective CTC (child to child) club

– Hand-washing

Demonstrations were used for hand-washing, tooth-brushing, solar disinfection, and many other topics. We facilitated group discussions and presentations, and students took part in role-plays. The students also received handouts which will help them teach hygiene and sanitation to their peers.

4 kenya4667 hand-washing

Students went outside to practice the 10 steps of hand-washing that the trainer demonstrated.

The CTC club will include both students and teachers who want to take responsibility for spreading the message of good health and hygiene among their peers. They will also be responsible for managing hand-washing stations, cleaning latrines, and keeping the school environment tidy. A water user committee has also been formed by parents and school administration, which will be responsible for overseeing and maintaining the new facilities.

6 kenya4667 latrine management training

Students learning how to clean the latrines properly.

17-year-old Faith Khamonyi is the chair of the new CTC club. She said, "I am very happy today because the workshop has helped me understand some of the life issues affecting us in mixed secondary school. When you shared something on personal hygiene, it really cleared the air on what should one do as safety measures against myths on cervical and breast cancers. The health message we have learned today is helpful to use both in school and at home."

Project Result: VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines. These latrines are easy to use and easy to clean. And with a rainwater catchment tank, there should be enough water to keep them clean all the time!

19 kenya4667 new latrines

Project Result: Hand-Washing Stations

The two hand-washing stations were delivered to school and handed over to the CTC club. These have been placed outside of the boys’ and girls’ latrines to encourage hand-washing after latrine use. CTC club members will teach other students how to properly wash their hands at these stations, and will make sure there is always soap or ash available. Now the school has the stations they need, and they have the water to fill them!

18 kenya4667 hand-washing station

Project Result: Rainwater Catchment Tank

Construction for this 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank was successful!

Parents, staff, and students helped our artisans gather everything needed for construction. All the while, women cooked meals for the artisans, and the school provided accommodations for the artisans during their work. Some local men even helped our artisans with their manual labor.

7 kenya4667 a community member brings materials to construction site

A community member wheels dirt to the tank construction site.

The process began with our staff and school administration moving around the school compound to try and determine the best location for a new rainwater catchment tank. This needed to be the best site with good, clean roofing to catch the rainwater.

Rainwater tank construction began with clearance of the site: excavating the soil within the required measurements to make level ground for the tank foundation. The foundation was cast by laying hardcore on a level ground and then reinforcing it using steel, concrete and waterproof cement.

10 kenya4667 stones arranged for tank foundation

Men placing stones like a puzzle to form the first layer of the tank foundation.

As the foundation was being lain, both the drawing pipe as well as the washout pipe were affixed. The wall was built with ferro-cement techniques through six layers. The inner wall was plastered while rough casting was done on the outer part.

12 kenya4667 tank wall

After the superstructure had been given enough time to settle, the dome construction followed. The manhole cover was fitted, inlet pipes were connected to the roof gutters, inlet screens, ventilation pipes (breathers) and overflow pipes were all done to standards.

16 kenya4667 artisan installing discharge pipe

Aligning the discharge pipes, which will be finished with taps.

Finally, the catchment area was dug, plastered, and a staircase installed. Drainage was set up there, and then the tank was allowed three to four weeks to undergo complete curing before it was cleaned and handed over to Ebukanga Secondary School. It already has some water in it!

20 kenya4667 clean water

Achila Media, the school cook, was there to celebrate the tank's completion. She said, "Am so happy because this water tank will make food preparation done on time and our students will have much time to concentrate on their academics. The tank will also save the school much money because the administration used to spend quite a lot paying people to bring water for us to use at school. Besides, we will be able to manage the water quality by doing tank treatment, unlike buying water which we could not even tell their sources." Saved time, saved money, and better health. We are so excited to see these results come to fruition as the students and staff enjoy clean water!




September, 2017: Ebukanga Secondary School Project Underway

Ebukanga Secondary School in Kenya has begun building a new source of safe, clean water because of your generous donation. A rainwater catchment tank and new latrines are being constructed, hand-washing stations provided, and the school is being trained on proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Imagine the impact this will have on these students! Thank you for noticing the need here, and we’ll keep you posted as the work continues.




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: Ebukanga Secondary School

November, 2018

“I am healthy and ready to study well and pass my exams!” – student Purity Shanize, discussing how the tank has changed his life

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Ebukanga Secondary 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 catchement tank for Ebukanga Secondary 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 Wilson Kipchoge with you.

The students at Ebukanga Secondary School depend on the provision of safe, clean water from their beautiful tank constructed last year. In the past, they used to spend money in order to get the water from vendors. This school now has access to safe drinking water, which reduces waterborne diseases and improves student health.

"Since last year, tremendous things have occurred. As we speak now, we have our own water source near and closer to us whenever we need it," Principal Jeremiah Andayi told us during a recent visit to the school.

Their sanitation has also improved, especially for the girls who used to wait in long lines to use the old, dangerous latrines. That is no longer an issue either, thanks to the VIP latrines constructed as a part of the project. Hygiene has also improved because of the accompanying training. Students are seen cleaning the classrooms and using handwashing stations after going to the bathroom.

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 Ebukanga Secondary School is changing many lives.

"For a very long time, I have been wishing to drink water from our own source that is free from contamination," 16-year-old Purity Shanize told us. "That has happened because of the new tank, and our water is treated using chlorine. I am healthy and ready to study well and pass my exams!"

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 Ebukanga Secondary 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 Ebukanga Secondary 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 - H2O For Life
The Weaver family/JM Smith Foundation
1 individual donor(s)