Water is important in human life. Clean water in schools ensures quality learning for students with high transition rates. Although Kisii County receives approximately 1922 mm of rainfall, almost the best in the whole country, the communities around this area still find water a challenge because there has not been plans and programmes designed to retain water through either piped or water harvesting systems. The most casualties of this inadequacy are largely schools, hence affecting learning.
According to the statistics obtained from Ogembo Sub-county hospital, where this project will be based, almost 60% of the cases of diarrhea reported at the hospital were from school going children. This is further supported by school absenteeism report from Ogembo District Education Office which confirms that indeed over 50% of the students miss school due to common illness related to water challenges. Action for Children Kenya will ensure that students in the 6 schools have clean drinking water
This project will focus on six (6) public primary schools in Sengera ward, Ogembo sub-county, Kisii County. It seeks to provide water harvesting systems to enable the students access quality clean washing and drinking water through the installation of gutters and 20,000 liter water tanks in every school. This will ensure that schools have year round water supply for the learners, hence reducing drastically water borne diseases, hence healthy learning environment and better performance in school.
The project will benefit 3000 students in 6 schools, ensuring that they have access to safe and clean water. This will reduce school absenteeism due to diseases and create a good learning environment for students to pass their exams and transit to the next level. We also expect the community will replicate the project at household levels, hence providing too safe and clean water to their families and basically reducing by 90% any water borne diseases.
