Integrated School Water and Resilience Building Project
At Pioneer Child Development Programme, every child deserves a safe and healthy learning environment. That’s why we are thrilled to share the progress of our Integrated School Water and Resilience Building Project—a three-year initiative profoundly impacting Laikipia and Nyeri counties. This project, currently benefiting 6 schools, is designed to address critical needs identified through thorough assessments and collaborative planning.
Project Objectives and Activities
Objective 1: Improve access to safe water and sanitation solutions.
Objective 2: Enhance knowledge and practices on sustainable water usage in home gardening.
To achieve these objectives, we have implemented a range of activities:
- Roof Catchment Rainwater Harvesting: Installing systems to capture and store rainwater.
- Water Storage, Purification, Treatment, and Accessibility: Enhancing how water is stored, purified, and accessed.
- Rehabilitation of Toilets and Sanitary Facilities: Upgrading and maintaining toilet facilities for better hygiene.
- WASH Awareness and Construction of Water Points: Building awareness around Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and establishing new water points.
- Establishment of Climate-Smart School Gardens: Creating school gardens with fruit trees, fencing, and drip irrigation systems.
- Awareness Creation on Climate-Smart Agriculture: Educating students and communities about sustainable agricultural practices.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Our work is made possible through strong partnerships with Barnfonden, Water for All (WFA), local school management, and community stakeholders. These collaborations are crucial in ensuring the project’s success and sustainability.
Priorities and Impacts
Child Protection: By reducing the need for children to fetch water from unsafe sources, we’ve decreased their risk of injuries and accidents. This change has improved their self-esteem and reduced gender-based discrimination in schools.
Health Benefits: Improved water access has led to a cleaner environment in Kihato and Naromoru Township. This reduction in dust and contamination is expected to lower the incidence of respiratory illnesses and infections. Upgraded toilets are now well-drained and hygienic, further protecting children’s health.
WASH Improvements: With better sanitation facilities, queuing times at latrines have decreased, allowing children to return to their classes promptly. Our progress in the first two schools has already surpassed our initial targets, benefiting over 2,000 students and teachers and indirectly reaching nearly 2,000 more. We aim to expand these benefits to additional schools, reaching a total of 2,400 students and 60 teachers directly, and over 10,000 individuals indirectly.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation by Barnfonden, Water for All, ChildFund-Kenya, and Pioneer Board members have been instrumental in refining our approach. Regular visits and feedback have helped us address the root causes of issues, ensuring the project’s sustainability. Our participatory monitoring approach has not only improved project quality but also fostered a sense of ownership among community leaders and school members.
Future Directions
As we move forward, integrating risk analysis into all project aspects remains a priority. We are committed to proper planning, maintenance of infrastructure, and the continuous development of capacity to ensure safety and sustainability. Regular briefings and site checks are part of our strategy to maintain high standards and prevent accidents.
Join Us in Making a Difference
The Integrated School Water & Resilience Building Project is more than just infrastructure; it’s about empowering communities, enhancing education, and fostering resilience. We are grateful for the support of our partners and the active participation of local communities. Together, we are creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable environments for our children.
Stay tuned for more updates and ways you can get involved. Your support helps us continue to transform lives and build a brighter future for every child.
Pioneer Child Development Programme
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