Mitala Maria Primary School
On any typical day in the school year, 800 students and teachers arrive at Mitala Maria Primary School for a full day of lessons, play time, and exams without any source of clean drinking water within their reach. Despite there being two rainwater collection systems near the school grounds, students and staff are only permitted to use the lesser of the two systems, which was poorly constructed in the 1990’s and now has substantial leaks. For a period of time, the school also attempted to meet the water needs of its many students by connecting the school to the piped national water system, but quickly found the high cost to be far too heavy of a financial burden. With no other viable option in sight, the school’s young children are forced to cross roadways and walk for nearly a mile through dangerous bush to a protected spring box, where the water is of poor quality. To provide relief for these significant health and safety challenges facing Mitala Maria Primary School’s 800 students and staff, we want to provide a critical investment in their water supply through the installation of a rainwater collection system.
South Sudan School 1 (2021)
Our South Sudanese projects are quite unique from our others in the fact that they are not typically built at a school. These projects are built in villages with the plan that a school will form around that well in the future. The reason for this difference from our other projects is that South Sudan in its war-torn state is in desperate need for even the basic infrastructures to begin new communities. These South Sudan projects are not named because they are not typically schools yet at this point in the process. They will simply be a community well.
Ebukhayi Primary School
Ebukhayi Primary School was established by community parents in 1998. It was taken over by the government in 2013 when primary education was mandated free. With the additional government funding, the school population grew from 84 students to the 515 students it has today.Students learn mathematics, English, Kiswahili, science, religion, and social studies. There are extracurricular clubs, such as scouting and a young farmers club, that meet each Tuesday afternoon.The students arrive at school at 7 am when they start general cleaning chores. The students also use this time to go to the river that’s about one kilometer away. Some also bring water from home in the morning. They use some of this water to clean the classrooms before classes start at 8 am. They break for lunch at 12:40 pm and resume afternoon classes at 2 pm.
Ematiha Secondary School
Ematiha Secondary School, located in western Kenya, first opened its doors to 27 students in 2001. It has steadily grown to have 263 students attending classes in five classrooms.We first arrived at Ematiha Secondary School in the afternoon when it was very sunny. We met the security guard at the school gate who led me to his office to sign in first before being let inside. We walked to the school offices where we met the deputy principal, who gave us a warm welcome and proceeded to give us a tour.
Excel Junior School
For the 500 students and staff at Excel Junior School, the single most needed school supply is clean water. Every day, children make the 15 minute walk through dense vegetation and along steep pathways to collect drinking water from a run-off pit which has a strong odor and a color leaving no question as to the safety of its water. Students routinely find livestock and other animals already drinking from and relieving themselves next to the water source by the time they arrive. In order to safeguard the health and well being of their young students and redeem lost classroom time, the head staff at Excel Junior School have requested a rainwater collection system from our implementing partner, the Ugandan Water Project. By equipping Excel Junior School with health, safety, and greater educational opportunities through a rainwater collection system, we will have a lasting impact on the school’s current and future students.
Huruma Centre Orphanage
Huruma Centre is part of the Iringa Diocese Charity Center for vulnerable children. Huruma is a children's home in Iringa, Tanzania which provides a safe home, nutrition, and education for children who have no family or others to care for them. Huruma has a total of 66 children who live at the centre. There are 4 dormitories for the 29 boys and 37 girls (2 each) where the children stay with matrons. These buildings have been updated and include modern toilets. Access to water is the most important issue they face in order to keep their dormitories clean and safe for the children.The Centre built a daycare on the property that provides services for families in the local community which generates some income to help them with expenses. Instead of purchasing food they invested in livestock and they cultivate crops/vegetables to provide food for themselves. They also sell food to the local community to generate additional income. They are a living example of the age-old saying “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Ikuvilo Primary School
Ikuvilo Primary School is located in Ikuvilo village, Iringa rural district approximately 25 Kilometers from Iringa town. There are 549 students ranging from pre-primary to standard 7 who are educated by 8 teachers/staff members.