Musungu Primary School, Western Kenya
The 479 students and staff of Musungu Primary School face a serious challenge: they don't have a safe, reliable source of clean water. Their options include a dangerous well with poor water quality or an even more dangerous nearby river that is visibly contaminated.
Students try to bring water from home, but that is also an intensive effort, not always possible, and not enough to see them through a school day. Students often get pulled from class to fetch water, and lessons are interrupted. Learning is also frequently interrupted due to waterborne illnesses for both students and teachers.
Teacher Hassan Juma, 45, was recently transferred to the school. He was not prepared for the water challenges he would encounter.
"I have just been transferred to this school. I didn't know the effect of the available water. After consuming this water, I had a terrible stomachache that prompted me to visit the hospital. I was diagnosed with H. pylori, which the doctor said could have been caused by fecal particles in the water I consumed. That was the end of me taking water drawn from the hand-dug well," said Mr. Juma.
"When I fell sick, I missed duty, and the same happens to our pupils who, [with] no option, sometimes take water from the well. They miss lessons when they are home for treatment. It gives me a shiver to think about the kind of water I consumed and what my pupils could still be consuming. The pain that comes with water-related diseases is unbearable [for] grown-ups, how about [for] the little ones?" he exclaimed.
The Solution
Without intervention, the students and staff will remain compromised. But there is a solution. The installation of a new well at Musungu Primary School would protect everyone's health and reduce time lost to water collection and illness. Clean water is essential for the safety, well-being, and success of both students and staff.
Mr. Juma looks forward to a day when water is no longer a concern that consumes his time and energy, and that of his students.
"If we are to have a waterpoint that can give us safe water for drinking and cooking, plus cleaning, our pupils would settle in class and their performance would improve because we as teachers would also get ample time to teach," he concluded.
A new water point will be located on-premises at the school to ensure accessibility, reliability, and safety for students, teachers, and staff. Having water available at the school allows children to drink, wash hands, and use sanitation facilities without leaving school grounds, preventing disruptions to lessons and reducing safety risks. Technical experts worked with the school leadership and local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Two gravity-fed handwashing stations and two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks will also be installed.
With your support, we can help improve the health, safety, and academic outcomes for this school community!