Kenya – 2011/12 School Challenge: Ngong Sub-County WASH Project

Central and South Keekonyokie, Ngong Sub-County, Kajiado District, Kenya
Project Partner: MEDEC

Overview

Project Updates

Schools in Kenya

Fundraising Schools

Ngong Sub-County is a vast region southwest of the capital city of Nairobi, Kenya. This region suffers from water scarcity and challenges to drilling of wells for water access due to fluoride levels in this region of the Rift Valley.

After much study and input from local experts at the Maasai Environment Development Consortium (MEDEC), it was determined that rainwater harvesting was a viable option for providing water for people settling in this area. Rainwater harvesting has proven to be effective with 10,000 litre tanks filling during the rainy season from catchment areas on household roofs and water stored for use through the dry season.

Drought conditions magnified the importance of water conservation and proper storage and use of water in the home. This region is home to the Maasai people who were traditionally nomadic. Now, with changes in the environment and culture bringing challenges to their traditional life, our local partners at the MEDEC strive to support local residents adapt for a sustainable future.

Provision of water, sanitation and hygiene, along with the many other areas of development including sustainable agricultural practices, tree planting and water conservation, are the focus of MEDEC in collaboration with 50 common interest groups of the region.

With the extensive area of Ngong Sub-County, the areas of Central and South Keekonyokie have been identified as the focus of the planned project activities. Ryan’s Well and MEDEC have partnered for the last 4 years to provide over 77 household rainwater harvesting tanks (see Phase 1 and Phase 2 project profiles for more information).

Sammy Oleku and his team at MEDEC are delighted to now take part in the School Challenge Project for 2011/2012.

“We receive this information with a lot of hope that the project will go a long way to helping the Maasai women and children address water scarcity and improve their livelihoods. We thank the schools and all those involved in the fundraising activities. Above all we also appreciate your desire to have our project be the target for this year’s School Challenge Project.” – Sammy Oleku, Program Director, MEDEC

Activities & Impacts:

  • Construction of 25 rainwater harvesting tanks
  • Hygiene training and handwashing stations for 11 schools
  • Training of Maasai women to build the household and latrines with latrines to be built by each household before construction of rainwater tanks will begin

*Costs include (in Canadian dollars): water quality monitoring, hygiene education activities, water source committee training, project monitoring, reporting & partner coordination for WASH sustainability, all construction, drilling, materials and labour as required.

Updates:

To Learn More:

April 16, 2012 – Wrapping Up!

As of early April, the rainwater tanks and school hygiene education activities are near completion. Our partners at MEDEC are preparing the final report and photos to send to Ryan’s Well very soon.

Sammy from MEDEC expressed the sincere gratitude of the people in Ngong for the support of all the participating schools and Ryan’s Well. He also mentions “glad we finished the work before the rains come!” as the rains are just beginning in this region.Just think of all the rainwater tanks filling with water for each household!

A dear friend and supporter of Ryan’s Well from the U.S. visited Ngong and some of these project sites with MEDEC on Friday, April 13th. In a heartfelt exchange of emails after their “spectacular day”, Sammy expressed:

“This clearly tells me that you have us the Maasai people in your heart. I was also very impressed with the women’s very happy faces. This was great. Thank you all for working hard to support the Maasai people. Its my prayer and hope that one day we shall all sit together around one table and share what we are all doing to support the less privileged in our societies.”

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February 9, 2012 – Appreciation of “Roof Water”

Construction of household rainwater harvesting tanks has been progressing in the communities. Maasai women are learning to construct the tanks and helping each other as the group moves from house to house to build the tanks.

Water collected from the rainwater harvesting systems of roof troughs and a storage tank is quickly becoming known as “roof water.” The Maasai women of the community are grateful for the skills training and having access to clean water.

Through January, hygiene awareness and handwashing activities have continued at 7 schools in Ngong. More WASH friendly schools are being created! As awareness grows about WASH, the need for better washroom facilities is also being highlighted at these schools. The latrines at most schools are in poor condition and, along with our partners at MEDEC, we plan to support these schools with improved latrines in a future project phase.

“I love the roof water because it is clean
and cold all the time. Once you drink it,
you feel like you want more and more.”
– Miriam talking about her new rainwater
harvesting system
“Germs cause diseases that can kill.
Our class is very happy for considering
them in the WASH program and training.”
– Amos, Class 6
With the rainwater harvesting, disease
prevalence has reduced. The families
with tanks are healthier than those
without.” – Esther, member of the Maasai
women’s group building rainwater tanks

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January 3, 2012 – The Start of a New Year!

The seven remaining schools will start their hygiene education activities in the second week of January.

Loodariak, Eremit, Olepolos, Kipeto and Leshuta Schools already completed their initial hygiene training in November and December on how to be a WASH Friendly School. Community training has also taken place in the villages of Loodariak, Eremit and Olepolos where concerns of illness and poor sanitation were expressed.

By increasing knowledge and awareness now, residents of Ngong Sub-county will be engaged in the project and contribute fully to the construction and future maintenance of the rainwater tanks.

What is a WASH-Friendly School?

  • Using improved sanitation facilities
  • Washing hands with soap after using toilets and always before eating
  • Drinking safe water that has been treated and stored properly
Students try out handwashing equipment
at Enkereyian Primary School
Residents of Eremit community take part
in hygiene and WASH training

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November 17, 2011 – Activities Begin!

  • Celebration of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, 2011.

  • A stakeholders meeting was held for teachers, school management committees, MEDEC staff and the area Chief to initiate the program introduce WASH concepts to participants along with practical exercises such as use of handwashing buckets.
  • 12 schools were also identified and visited to start WASH education with students.
  • With Sammy, Elly and Mary of MEDEC and Imgard from the University of Nairobi, a solid foundation has been set to ensure a great experience for both the schools and residents of Ngong Sub-County and schools participating in the School Challenge this year. All in all, the project is off to a great start in just the first month!

Global Handwashing Day at Olepolos School

Global Handwashing Day at Olepolos
School

 

 

 

 

The following schools from Ngong Sub-County, Kenya, participated in hygiene and handwashing training – ensuring students have the tools to keep themselves and their families safe!

  • Ilmasin Primary School
  • Olchorro-onyori Primary School
  • Oloirien Primary School
  • Kipeto Primary School
  • Olepolos Primary School
  • Oloserain Primary School
  • Inyonyorri Primary School
  • Loodariak Primary School
  • Enkereyian Primary School
  • Emboliei Primary School
  • Oltepesi Primary School
  • Eremit Primary School

Thanks to the enthusiasm and motivation of these participating schools, the residents of Central and South Keekonyokie in Ngong Sub-County will gain access to safe water while learning valuable skills and gaining knowledge about hygiene and handwashing for a more prosperous future.

  • Patrick Airlie School, Calgary, Alberta
  • St. Christopher Catholic School, Sudbury, Ontario
  • Trail Ridge Montessori School, Grimsby, Ontario
  • Sir Robert Borden High School, Nepean, Ontario
  • Skagerak International School, Sandefjord, Norway
  • Agincourt Road Public School, Ottawa, Ontario
  • ILM Academy, Houston, Texas
  • Stratford Elementary School, Stratford, PEI
  • Merrickville Public School, Merrickville, Ontario
  • Salem High School, Salem, Maine
  • Magellan International School, Austin, Texas
  • City High Middle School, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Beaconhills College Junior School, Pakenham, Australia
  • North Middle School, Bretwood, New York
  • New York Institute of Technology, New York
  • Holy Cross C. S., Kemptville, Ontario
  • The British Schools, Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday School, London, ON
  • Trinitiy College, Port Hope, ON
  • Herzliah High School, Montreal, QC
  • St. Mark Isfeld Secondary School, Courtenay, BC
  • Heineman Middle School, Algonquin, Illinois
  • St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, Smith Falls, ON
  • Beijing City International School, Beijing, China
  • Castlebridge Public School, Mississauga, ON
  • Living Faith Lutheran Primary School, Queensland, Australia
  • Community School of Davidson, Davidson, North Carolina
  • Portland Estates E.S., Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • St. Andrew’s School, St. Andrew’s, Ontario
  • The Rectory School, Pomfret, Connecticut
  • Think International School, Hong Kong