Water Needed at Schools
Just over a week ago I had the honor of joining meetings at four primary schools in Western Kenya. The meetings included key stakeholders of the schools - teachers, students and parents. Similar to school meetings like this in the United States, the groups were addressing what they believe is needed for their children to receive quality education. They want the best for their children. One key difference though is that two of the items on the top of their "Needs Improved" list include water and latrines.
There is no running water or flushing toilets. Some schools have small rain catchment tanks and some have a few dilapidated latrines. Without water at school, children, usually girls, walk to collect water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning at the school. Without safe, clean latrines, disease has the potential to spread through open defecation and girls skip school when they are menstruating. Yes, more teachers, better classrooms, and more books would be great. But, first there needs to be water and latrines - because if the children are regularly absent, those other things do not matter.
~ Pamela Crane, PhD, Africa Field Manager
Pictured: Girls walking across the school yard carrying what will become our lunch at the end of one school meeting.
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