Footprints Project
Since 2005, travelers like you have helped us change the world through micro-donations.
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A total of
8954
Travelers
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donated
$20000.7
(100% funded) -
to help improve
Water & Sanitation
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in
Kenya
– Mr. Karisa, Head teacher, Misufini primary school
“We had a shortage of toilets in the school. With the support we are now confident that sanitation in the school will be improved”
– Kadzo, Parent, Dzikunze primary school
Project Aims:
- Water extension lines to 4 primary schools
- Installation of rainwater harvesting systems in 4 schools
- Providing basic operation and maintenance training to School Management Committees (SMCs), including school health training, and water quality monitoring
- Linking trained school staff to community-based water management committees (WMCs) and other administrative bodies to ensure effective coordination, including revenue collection (where relevant)
Water tank at the Misufini Primary School.
Project Achievements
1. Water extensions were initially proposed for four schools, however, two of the primary schools originally proposed had developed connections through community effort prior to the project. Three more primary schools were therefore identified. The schools are in the process of constructing the water extensions.
The schools have obtained Bills of Quantities (BoQs) from skilled labour in the water company – Kilifi and Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company (KIMAWASCO) - and are in the process of trenching to allow laying of the pipes. On completion these will serve a total school population of 795 (410 girls and 385 boys).
2. Eight primary schools constructed and completed latrines. These schools have access to 13 latrines (8 girls and 5 boys) covering a population of 6,398 (3,118 boys and 3,280 girls). Plan supported the schools with the materials for construction and payment for the skilled labour while the school management committees and parents actively participated by digging the pit and supplied water for the construction work.
3. Four primary schools benefited from four water storage tanks and rain water harvesting systems for 16,000 litres to serve a total of 1,404 pupils (718 girls and 686 boys). There has been an increase in the number of children attending school in these schools since the establishment of the systems.
All the schools and communities that benefit from water extensions and support with water tanks will be mobilized for Community led Total Sanitation (CLTS: is an innovative methodology for mobilising communities to completely eliminate open defecation. Communities are facilitated to conduct their own appraisal and analysis of open defecation and take their own action to become open defecation free.
The communities will also have School Management Committee trainings on health and management of water systems. The project will also involve the school clubs through Child to Child training and Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST is designed to promote hygiene behaviours, sanitation improvements and community management of water and sanitation facilities using specifically developed participatory techniques). Through the PHAST approach school children will be ambassadors of health in their respective villages.
Girls Latrines at Dzikunze
Project Successes
1. There is reduced distance to water sources which has enabled children to have adequate time to study and play instead of spending that time to look for water. Availability of water in the school will allow the girl child to have enough time for her education rather than go fetch water for the school.
2. There will be improved hygiene practices among pupils in the schools within the project area and the availability of latrines will minimize cases of diarrhoeal diseases among children. The schools now have more latrines for use.
3. There is a positive trend where men have come to appreciate the role women can play in community programs. Women will be major stakeholders in the management committees of the water projects unlike in the past where women could attend meetings and not participate in decision making.
A water extension trench in Mihuhuni Primary School.
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