You Can Give Kids in India Clean Water

Splash staff from Nepal, Ethiopia, and Seattle, traveled to Kolkata, India to join their Indian colleagues for Splash’s first ever “Program Quality (PQ) Summit.” The team came together for a fun and informative week of connecting, collaborating, and learning all in the name of how to better support our programs. The purpose of the Summit was to connect colleagues from across the globe, align around the importance of data quality and standardized methods for collecting and using data to improve Splash’s programs, and to create program quality champions within each country office. 

This event marks the turning of an important page in Splash’s progress towards aligning global programmatic standards and data quality in order to effectively track organizational progress and communicate our impact. 

During their stay in Kolkata, participants visited six different schools ranging from large schools boasting 500+ students, residential schools who support the disenfranchised and marginalized, and small schools with hallways so narrow they could barely walk down. For some, it was the first time seeing our projects in Kolkata’s schools. Witnessing the differences between schools in Ethiopia, Nepal, and Seattle was a great learning experience, and comparing all of the similarities was heartwarming for all. No matter where you are, kids will be kids!

The Splash India team members were amazing hosts who demonstrated true Indian hospitality. Our global team members learned about the traditions of West Bengal life and witnessed many sights, smells, and sounds that make the region so beautiful. The Splash team also celebrated Vishwakarma Puja, the Hindu god of mechanics, by participating in a relgious ceremony and blessing the Splash cars.
 
With thousands of miles separating our country offices and with team members working around what feels like multiple clocks, sometimes the distance can feel vast. Conducting summits like these are a critical component to making sure Splash propels itself forward together. 

This year, Splash and our implementing partner, City Level Programme of Action (CLPOA), are working hard to bring clean water, hands, and toilets to twenty residential and day-boarding schools in Kolkata, India, benefiting over 4,000 children. 

Kolkata’s residential schools are designed to serve children in need. Many have never enrolled in school or have dropped out of the mainstream education system. Often these children are from single parent households or are orphaned. The schools offer free, compulsory education up to the eighth grade, with the principal aim of reintegrating child drop-outs into the mainstream education system. During the school year, these students live at the school, making Splash’s intervention even more important, as students would be provided 100% of their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs.

We’ve already installed water filtration systems at nine residential schools, bringing clean water to 2,182 kids for the very first time! So far, the change has been revolutionary for students. Students like Hiran*, an eighth grader at Rani Bhabani School, lives there with 90 other students and is receiving clean water for the first time and gaining valuable hygiene education. He loves working in the library and his favorite subject is math. To him math is like magic - a wonderful mystery with fascinating results. When asked what he wants to do when he grows up, he glows with confidence and says he would like to become an engineer.

Hiran has seen an increase in handwashing, a decrease in water misuse, and has developed a greater understanding of his rights. He’s has fun playing the different hygiene education games with Splash staff and learning about safe water and hygiene practices. But, most importantly, he notes: “Look everywhere. It’s so clean.”                    

Thanks to people like you, Splash’s intervention will benefit the health and livelihood of thousands of Kolkata’s most vulnerable students and will continue to do so for years to come. We look forward to expanding our work to the remaining residential schools in Kolkata and continuing to improve the lives of even more kids!

We couldn't do this without you. Thank you for making a difference in India!

* Name has been changed to protect privacy