This project is a part of our shared program with Bridge Water Project. Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Being a public primary school, the school is located in the centre of the community and lies on land that is surrounded with green vegetation. Most pupils in this school come from the neighboring families whose parents are the main stakeholders of the school.
Pupils of this school come from middle class families that practice small scale farming. Sugar cane and maize are the main crops that are grown throughout the year.
The school has pupils who are orphaned and therefore the parents together with the teachers contribute a little money to support their needs.
In 1989, the Kenya Finland company drilled a well for the school. This was meant to help the pupils secure time for studies rather than walking long distances looking for water. In addition, the well was meant to improve the hygiene and sanitation condition of the school.
Due to a lack of proper sensitization and a strong water committee, the well only served for a period of three years and was then vandalized and stolen. This rendered the school helpless, forcing the pupils go back to the old streams, drinking contaminated water.
Presently, the situation has become even worse since the streams dry up during dry seasons. School performance has also been greatly affected compared to the times when water was available.
CURRENT WATER SOURCE
The school currently has access to an unprotected spring which is 3km away. The pupils are forced to carry containers from their homes for the purpose of bringing water from the stream to their school. Water is directly contaminated from the water point since dirty containers are used as water storage facilities.
POPULATION
The school has a population of 16 teachers and 690 pupils where 300 are boys and 390 are girls. There are also 2 subordinate 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 community would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.)
HYGIENE & SANITATION
The school has 12 latrines for boys and 7 for girls. There is a hand washing station for teachers only. Fecal matter is seen on the floor of the latrines for boys and girls.
The latrines are cleaned once a week by the pupils.
The school has a central place for dumping litter even though debris is seen spread all over.
The Bridge Water Project is set to conduct a training on proper hygiene and sanitation which will lead to change in behavior and attitude.
ASSESSING THE NEED
Water is needed in this school mainly for the purpose of drinking, washing, cooking, and other related activities.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
The project will be of great benefit to the school pupils and teachers.
WATER COMMITTEE
A strong water committee is yet to be formed with the help of the Bridge Water Project staff, to ensure the sustainability of the water point once it is rehabilitated.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE 1: WELL PAD CONSTRUCTION REPORT
Despite the fact that the schools are not on, it did not affect our program, we decided to do well pad construction work. The team mobilized to reconstruct the well pad.
This work begun by removing off the broken well pad to do good plastering. Final smooth plastering was done with keenness to make sure the well is adequately protected and avoid any openness that will contaminate water. The well is left to cure for some days.
PHASE 2- HYGIENE AND SANITATION TRAINING
Besides rehabilitating Malekha primary school well which served the school and later on broke down, there was a great need of training the pupils on issues of proper hygiene and sanitation.
Despite the fact that teachers strike is on, the school has an equal ratio of boys and girls who were present for the training. The facilitator educated the pupils on the importance of clean water, good hygiene and sanitation and good governance by the young generation.
Among the practices that were done in the school are poor disposal of litters and lack of water treatment methods. Personal hygiene of the pupils of Malekha Primary School is ignored. Most of the pupils have shaggy hair, don’t wash their uniform regularly and don’t take bath daily. To help the school gain positive attitude towards good hygiene and sanitation practices, training was conducted to the avail pupils in the school.
Some of the issues that were dealt with during the training in relation to hygiene and sanitation practices were;
1. Clean is beautiful
2. I drink safe water
3. Use of latrine
4. How to prevent diseases.
The training begun by introduction between the facilitator and the pupils.Thereafter the pupils discussed the consequences of lack of proper hand washing and critical time to wash hands. This was emphasized by a demonstration as they didn’t remember using running water and soap because of their ignorance and attitude towards hand washing.
The next activity the pupils discussed where and how they fetch water in their specific homes. As the discussion went on they noted that they usually contaminate their water in various ways in which turns to be the main cause of diseases they are affected with. The method they use while fetching water is one way of contaminating water. Storage containers and the sources are other ways of contaminating water. After the discussion about cleanliness of water, the pupils learned that water for drinking should be kept away and separate and also in a clean container and covered.
In their groups, the pupils went on discussing the diseases that are caused by consuming contaminated water. From their discussion they noted that waterborne diseases are spread through water and fecal. With the help of the facilitator the pupils learned the importance of proper use of latrine and water treatment methods to avoid the spread of diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid.
PHASE 3 FLUSHING, PUMP INSTALLATION AND HANDING OVER
Cleaning of the well was important to remove out the stagnant water and dirt particles so as recharge of the clean and safe water to take place. After the cleaning, an Affridev pump was installed and thereafter it was handed over to the pupils and teachers of Malekha Primary School.
