Eshiakhulo Primary School is located in Eshiakhulo Village, Kenya. It began in 1977 as an Early Childhood Education (ECDE ) learning center. It opened it
s first primary school class in 1978. The community decided to start this educational center since there was no other primary school in the area. In the beginning, there were only 65 young children, but it has now grown to a total of 758 pupils! The school employs 18 teachers and three support staff.
Pupils fetch water from a nearby unprotected spring, which is 200 meters away, in small jerrycans. That water is used for cleaning, cooking and drinking. Time students spend lined up to fetch water sacrifices time that would otherwise be used profitably for academics.
Pupils have to step in the mucky, stagnant water at the spring, predisposing them to infections. Teachers don’t control how the water is drawn and handled at the spring or on the road, because children go there alone. “Some of our children bring to school soiled water and I tend to believe that they just draw it from the ground when the queues get longer,” said Headteacher Stephen Mayabi.
Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training and Hand-Washing Stations
Training will be held for two days. The facilitator will use PHAST (participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation), ABCD (asset-based community development), CTC (child to child), lectures, group discussions, and handouts to teach health topics and ways to promote good practices within the school. The CTC method will prepare students to lead other students into healthy habits, as well as kickstart a CTC club for the school. This CTC club will oversee the new facilities, such as hand-washing stations, and make sure they are kept clean and in working condition. The two hand-washing stations will be delivered to the school, and the club will fill them with water on a daily basis and make sure there is always a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.
Plans: VIP Latrines
These latrines are in dire need of replacement. Two triple-door latrines will be constructed with local materials that the school will help gather. Three doors will serve the girls while the other three serve the boys. And with a new source of water on school grounds, students and staff should have enough to keep these new latrines clean.
Plans: Rainwater Catchment Tank
A 50,000-liter rainwater catchment tank will help alleviate the water crisis at this school. The school will also help gather the needed materials such as sand, rocks, and water from the spring for mixing cement. Once finished, this tank can begin catching rainfall that will be used by the school’s students and staff. Students will no longer have to haul water to school, for they will soon have safe water at their doorstep.
We and the school strongly believe that with this assistance, standards will significantly improve. These higher standards will translate to better health, better academic performance, and a better quality of life.
Progress at Eshiakhulo Primary School – 11/22/2017
We’ve received an update from the field that the brunt of tank and latrine construction work will be done in December. The school asked for some extra time to prepare for our artisans’ arrival; to gather the manpower needed to help our artisans sink latrine pits and gather the water needed for mixing cement. Thank You for standing with us as we wait for the best time to complete this water project at Eshiakhulo Primary School. We look forward to reaching out again with good news!
Thank you for your continued to support. Eshiakhulo Primary School will soon have a source of water on school grounds thanks to your donation! A rainwater catchment tank and new latrines are being constructed, hand-washing stations provided, and the school is being trained on proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Imagine the impact this will have on these students! Together we DO make a GREATER impact!
Erick's Hope 