A partnership between UN-HABITAT and the Government of Italy will provide clean water and better sanitation facilities to over 15,000 pupils in Kenya through the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks and latrines.
Pupils at Maranda Primary School in Nyanza Province washing their hands at one of the hand-washing facilities constructed by Sustainable Aid in Africa. Photo: UN-HABITAT
The US$ 300,000 project, being implemented by Kenyan NGO Sustainable Aid in Africa (SANA), will also support the creation of School Health Clubs to promote best hygiene practices in the selected schools and host communities, with emphasis on hand washing with soap after using the latrines.
Multi-stakeholder forums in the project towns established under the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Initiative have identified beneficiary schools based on criteria aimed at ensuring that thirty of the most deserving primary schools in the municipalities of Kisii, Homa Bay and Bondo are targeted by the project. This will improve the health status and learning environment for the highest possible number of pupils.
The project was launched at Bar Muofu Primary School in Bondo District, District Commissioner Mr. Salim Hohamud. The provincial administration will provide all the administrative support and coordination between all relevant ministries, as well as providing assistance in the monitoring and evaluation of the project at local level.
Noting that a better urban future is achievable by focusing on projects that improve the quality of life for children and the youth, Mr. Laban Onong’no the Chief Technical Adviser for the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Initiative said the schools sanitation project was one of several projects being implemented by UN-HABITAT under the initiative. Other on-going projects for Bondo include rehabilitation and expansion of the water supply network for the town, a solid waste management project, training and capacity building for local artisans, support in urban planning, and the development of a comprehensive environmental sanitation and conservation strategy.
Since inception 10 years ago, Sustainable Aid in Africa (SANA) has mobilized over Kshs. 155 Million to support school based water, sanitation and hygiene education in Nyanza Region, benefiting over 58,000 pupils, and facilitated the establishment and training of 196 School Health Clubs in Nyanza Region. The organization is also implementing a project to provide microcredit for sanitation in the three municipalities through the support of UN-HABITAT that targets female-headed low-income households.
Promotion of proper use and maintenance of the installed facilities will be emphasized using loud hygiene messages placed strategically within the school compounds. Fliers, the use of talking walls, and social marketing techniques and sanitation campaigns by Village Resource Persons and School Health Clubs will be used to promote sanitation in the communities around the schools. Area based sanitation working group will be introduced to scale up sanitation coverage in the target communities.
Related web site: WASH in Schools
Source: UN-HABITAT, 02 Feb 2010
