Water Blogged

Your contribution has given access to clean water for Kakamega High School in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Clean, flowing water is already making a difference in the lives of the students and staff. This will provide them with a reliable water source for their daily needs. Below is the completion report provided by our implementing partner, The Water Project.

We installed new latrines and handwashing stations, then trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

“With a reliable water supply, our learning experience will significantly improve. We will have more time to focus on our studies because problems like long queues will be solved. We will also maintain better hygiene, which will reduce cases of absenteeism in class due to waterborne illnesses. A clean environment equals a clear and settled mind, so I believe I will have better results in my studies because my environment will be more accommodating for learning,” said 17-year-old Majok.

Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new well on campus!

“The availability of water will have a significant positive impact on the school and students in general. It will help improve on time management and overall improved environmental cleanliness. It is also expected that we will have better hosting for sports activities, and also our students having an ample time to freshen up after sports. Peace of mind knowing you have enough water supply goes a long way,” said George Ngome Odhiambo, a 40-year-old teacher at the school.

The first step was to conduct a hydrogeological survey to determine the best site for the school’s well. Once we found the perfect spot, the team obtained government approval to begin drilling.

Parents, staff, and students all contributed to the well’s success from the start! To prepare for the well, the school collected fine sand and water for cement-making. When everything was ready, our drill team and staff arrived at the school to begin work.

Drilling started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 80 meters with a final static water level of 14 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days to complete due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel. The school’s kitchen staff and parents helped provide meals for the team, while the school provided a safe place for the artisans’ accommodations and storage of their materials.

Once we reached the optimum depth, the team inserted permanent casing, then bailed out the dirty water at the bottom of the well. The workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

We constructed a cement well pad to seal it off from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles were installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water. We included a short drainage channel and a soak pit to prevent standing water.

When the well pad was cured, we installed a new stainless steel hand pump and sampled the water for a quality test. The results showed that this water was safe for drinking!

We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the school’s students and teachers.

Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus.

“The dedication ceremony for the waterpoint had a big attendance with a turnout of government officials and school representatives. The Regional Commissioner, Deputy Regional Commissioner, Regional Commander, Member of County Assembly, Area Chief, School Principal, school administration, school chaplain, and some students came together to participate in the occasion. The ceremony highlighted the impact the project will bring to the school and community, and the officials shared words of encouragement and commitment to supporting the whole process of implementation and management of the water point. The school administration promised to take good care of the borehole for the well-being of everyone in the school,” shared Field Officer Carolyne Buradi.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the school administration and students, and to remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. These new latrines feature cement floors designed for easy use and cleaning. They have locking doors for safety and privacy, as well as vents to keep air flowing out through the roof. With a well right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

We set up two handwashing stations outside the latrines. Student Health Club members will teach other students how to wash their hands at the stations properly, refill the stations with water, and ensure that soap is always available.

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff. When the training day arrived, facilitators Carolyne, Wesley, Betty, Rose, Simidi, and Collins deployed to the site to lead the event. 22 students and teachers attended the training.

We emphasized personal, menstrual, oral, and environmental hygiene. Proper water handling, soap-making, the ten steps of handwashing, and the importance of primary health care were discussed. We covered disease prevention, teen pregnancy, and child rights. Waterpoint, latrine, and handwashing station operation and maintenance, as well as leadership and governance, were discussed. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

The students elected peers to lead their newly formed student health club. The student health club members will encourage good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

“During a discussion on personal hygiene, it emerged that most students were unaware and ignorant of the importance of bathing regularly, with some expressing that they often go for days without bathing due to fatigue and limited evening time. One student mentioned that, as boys, they did not see the need to bathe daily. The students even mentioned that they are not as complicated as compared to girls, and even mentioned that women are the only ones supposed to be bathing regularly. Many seemed to prioritize rest over personal cleanliness, indicating a gap in understanding the benefits of daily hygiene practices. However, as the training went on, we were able to share more on the importance of bathing, like boosting personal esteem, improving health, and well-being among the students,” said Carolyne.

“Through the training, I have been reminded of the different practices on hygiene and sanitation, water handling and treatment, and by that, I am confident that from now onwards, I will improve on my hygiene for better health and environment,” said 16-year-old James.

Thank you to the Westridge Water Warriors in California for helping make all of this possible!