2017-2019 Future Rotary International Global Grant Project
Summary:
In 2017 the plan is to apply for a Global Grant that will allow us to expand on the work that started in 2015 and continues today. There is a critical need for improved sanitation at Nkoilale Primary school. There is a need for a home where some of the girls presently boarding at the school will be able to live in close proximity to the school. This will help elevate over crowding in the school dormitories and provide an environment conducive to study and the development of life skills that will help enhance their way of life. A continued expansion of the solar lighting project will bring solar light to additional rural homes. A water storage facility will be built to provide a continuous supply of clean water for the girls home. Excess water will be made available to local homes in the immediate vicinity of the home.
Improved Sanitation
Lack of adequate toilet facilities Nkoilale Primary school causes many problems. If adequate environmentally friendly facilities are not provided at the planned girls home similar problems can be expected.
First and foremost is the impact on adolescent girls. Many girls drop out of school altogether when they reach puberty. Others skip school when they have their period. Those who do go to school, choose not to drink water while at school so that they don’t need to go to the toilet.
High levels of gastrointestinal disease means that many students – boys and girls – are absent from school on any given day. If you had diarhea and your school had no toilets, would you turn up?
One of the objectives of this project is to remove one of the reasons that girls drop out of school and one of the reasons for general absenteeism at school. In addition to building eco friendly toilets, as a Rotary Club we are committed to providing students with appropriate washing facilities including menstrual hygiene management for the girls.
We will encourage a regime of cleaning and maintenance. The plan is to conduct random, unannounced visits and inspections at schools and the girls home. Help will be provided to assist the school and the girls home to improve the lives of the young people in their care.
Traditionally, pit toilets have been used. Pit toilets had inherent problems including smell, flies, disease, and a short life span. After a relatively short time a pit toilet will fill and a new pit will need to be dug.
The toilets will be manufactured in Kenya, be permanent, easy to assemble, will have a large waste capacity, provide a compostable byproduct (no sewage), be odor and bacteria free and water free. All bi-products will produce nutrients that clean and safe-to-use as fertilizer for agriculture. The the cost of waste handling will be reduced significantly.
Expansion of Solar Lighting
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Water Bank
Nearly half of all drilled boreholes in Africa do not work – mainly due to an inability to maintain them locally.
AfricaWaterBank has developed a rainwater harvesting system that is: low cost, less than half the cost of the average drilled borehole, can be 100% maintained locally, does not break down, and can be easily managed by women.
Each tank has three plaster linings, one with water-resistant ingredients and the final one with sugar added to strengthen the cement by 8%; lengthen the cement’s life; improve water retention by 50%; and reduce cracking by 50%. Each tank has a 10-year guarantee.
With just 250mm of rainfall annuallythe system is able to provide a community of 400 people with clean drinking water all year around.
The systems are built using local labour, skills, know-how and technology. All the materials are typically available in any rural hardware store.
