Facilitating teaching and learning at 131 primary schools by improving water access and sanitation
The Tanzanian aid organization Mavuno Project and EWB-SWE have worked together for over ten years to improve the educational situation in Karagwe and Kyerwa, North-Western part of Tanzania. Our current main focus is to systematically improve the water and sanitation situation for all public primary schools in the district - 131 schools - meaning that approximately 80,000 children will have access to clean water and sanitation possibilities at schools after the long-term objectives are fulfilled.
Tanzania has compulsory schooling and the primary school (grades 1-7) is free of charge. In reality, conditions in homes and school environments make it difficult for many children to participate in school and obtain adequate education.
In Karagwe and Kyerwa, the level of education is low while many of the schools are overcrowded and understaffed, have substandard infrastructure, and lack access to water and electricity. Lack of water means that students have limited drinking water, that it is not possible to prepare lunch and that the school's cultivations cannot be irrigated. The sanitary situation becomes difficult, especially for girls in need of discreet and hygienic ways of changing their sanitary pads during menstruation, which leads to an approximate 25% absence rate. The quality of the little available water is in many cases substandard and purification methods are lacking.
The children in these schools come from very poor conditions. Located in the countryside, families rely on agriculture for self-sufficiency. Children's access to water at home is often no better than at school. Clean water at the school therefore has a very extensive impact on the health and well-being of many children.
Water and sanitation for Schools
Our goal is to systematically improve the availability of water, the quality of water, and the availability of adequate toilets at Karagwe’s and Kyerwa’s 131 primary schools.
Starting in 2019, our goal is to implement water tanks that provide clean water in 30 of these schools by the end of 2022. Despite the challenging time of pandemic, we were able to deliver access to clean water for 21 schools already. Each primary school counts between 700 to 1,400 children, which means the water supply has already been improved for more than 20,000 school children.
Thanks to Mavuno's established role in the area, as well as the mapping made by the schools deemed by the authorities to be among the most vulnerable, we are able to move forward with the construction of more rainwater tanks. Our aim remains to reach the nine remaining schools throughout 2022.
Besides water access
In parallel to the construction of water tanks, our current involvement includes design suggestions to adequate toilets (read more here), and investigations regarding water quality and purification techniques. EWB-SWE conducts the evaluations in collaboration with Mavuno and provides suggestions for suitable technology to implement at schools. This development work takes place in close contact with the district's representatives, local companies and the users at schools.
Project supporters
We are grateful for the contributions by Västerstaden Foundation, NCC, KIWA and HM Drottning Silvias Stiftelse Care About The Children towards our project.
Contact:
