Safe Water For Primary Schools In Sierra Leone
Clean water is essential for life. More than 2.6 billion people, 40% of the world’s population, lack basic sanitation facilities and over one billion people drink dirty water everyday. This results in over two million people dying from water-related diseases every year that could easily be prevented.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 6,000 children die every day from diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. It also affects the children’s quality of life with many, particularly girls, unable to attend school, because they are fetching water or are deterred by the lack of separate and decent sanitation facilities.
Sierra Leone is one of the least developed countries in the world. Ravaged by more than 10 years of civil war, 57% of the population live on less than $1 a day and only 34% of people have access to safe water and sanitation. There is a desperate need throughout the country for water, sanitation and healthcare services which could prevent these tragic and unnecessary deaths.
Many schools were burnt down during the war and although these are now being re-built, a chronic lack of water and sanitation facilities inside the schools remains. Without running water, many children have to leave classes in search of drinking water, often using contaminated streams. Nearby bushes are used as toilets, which is particularly difficult for girls who feel uncomfortable sharing toilet areas, causing many to stay away from school.
Over 430,000 primary school aged children in Sierra Leone are out of school. Very few communities have access to water in their village causing women and children to walk for several hours daily collecting water from ponds and streams many miles away. For many children collecting water for their family keeps them too busy to attend school.
This Priority Project will build water and sanitation facilities for five schools in Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone, helping 3,000 children to return to school. Each school will be equipped with a well and latrine, so that the children and their teachers can access water and sanitation facilities easily without disturbing their school day.
The project will also construct 20 household latrines, providing over 5,000 people with proper sanitation. Communities will be trained in managing the wells and sanitation and health awareness sessions will be held to reduce and prevent disease.
What Your Support Has Achieved
Your support has enabled us to help 555 children access safe water and sanitary latrines at school, allowing them access to an education. We have also managed to provide thousands of community members with household latrines and sanitation training, ensuring families in the Bombali chiefdom have a healthier, happier future. So far two schools have benefited from the provision of a hand dug well and latrine and 3 communities have benefited from the construction of 10 household latrines.
This project is taking place in the rural communities of Sella Limba Chiefdom in Bombali District. These villages have had no access to clean water, resulting in people drinking water from polluted streams and rivers, often a long distance from their homes. The location of the wells and sanitation facilities was decided in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to ensure they formed part of government policy.
Community Engagement
Before the project began, ActionAid spent time with the communities ensuring their support for the project. This is important because it encourages participation, builds trust and helps to ensure the project moves forward. It also gives a forum to discuss the implementation of the project, outlining roles and responsibilities among all the stakeholders and the ownership and management of the project, ensuring it is sustainable and well managed after completion.
A project management committee was then established made up of chiefdom elders, women, youth groups and the co-ordinator from ActionAid’s partner organisation. The committee was consulted about all aspects of the project and were important in mobilising support and raising awareness within the community.
Construction of the School Water Wells and Latrines
Community members helped to gather materials for the wells and latrines and building work began in March 2007. Two schools have benefited from the construction of a water well and VIP latrines. VIP latrines are Ventilated Improved Pits, which are well ventilated and more spacious and robust than normal household toilets.
Construction of the Household Latrines
In total, 3 communities benefited from the construction of 10 household latrines. Their location was decided by consulting with the communities, who decided that they should be situated so every 4-5 houses have a latrine to share. This way the whole community would benefit from the project.
Training and Management of the Wells and Latrines
As the communities will manage the wells and latrines, it is essential to provide training to community members in their management and upkeep, as well as raise awareness about good sanitation practices. Village pump caretakers were trained in the management and care of the water pumps and water chlorinators, to ensure the wells are maintained and safe to use.
Blue flag volunteers were trained in managing the latrines and taught about good sanitation practices, as well as being provided with equipment to assist with their cleaning and repair. As part of the training all the volunteers were taught to prepare and administer emergency oral re-hydration therapy to people who contract diarrhoea, ensuring this preventable illness is treated effectively.
All those taking part in the training sessions are required to pass on their new skills and learnings to members of the wells committee and other members of the community. It is hoped these skills will trickle down to empower the whole community, ensuring the long term security of the wells and latrines.
A mechanism has also been set up by the community to fund any repairs to the well or general maintenance costs, ensuring the communities are empowered to manage the wells and latrines themselves in future years.
The Difference Your Support Has Made
Before the project began, children and communities were drinking out of contaminated sources and using unsanitary, exposed latrines. Water could only be found a long walk from home, meaning many children were too busy collecting water to attend school. Others were put off by the lack of separate and decent sanitation facilities.
After the project has been completed, the children attending the two schools in Bombali district can now access clean safe water and use sanitary ventilated latrines that combined will help prevent the spread of water borne diseases. Attendance at the schools has increased by 12% with many children, who previously spent their days collecting water to support their families or who were deterred by the lack of privacy, now keen to attend school.
Thanks to your support we have also constructed ten latrines for three communities also in Sella Limba chiefdom, giving them access to safer, healthier sanitary conditions. Alongside the construction of the toilets, training and support has been provided ensuring the project is sustainable and well managed for many years to come. These training sessions have also helped raise awareness of good hygiene and sanitary practices, reducing the spread of water borne diseases.
Transforming Childhoods
Abibatu Sesay is 9 years old and lives in Masankorie village in the Sella Limba Chiefdom. She attends a community school that has benefited through this project from the construction of a well and VIP latrine. We asked her what her daily routine was like before the well was built and how it has changed since the well was completed.
Looking Forward
So far, thanks to your generous support, thousands of men, women and children have benefited from the construction of the water wells and latrines. By providing them with access to clean water that is located close to home and good sanitary facilities, you have helped ensure the community has a healthier future and that more children can now attend school. However, this project is only half way through and we still need your support and fundraising so that more wells and latrines can be constructed; helping many more people access safe water and education.
With your continued support in 2008 we hope to help more communities in the Sella Limba chiefdom access water and sanitary latrines. We will construct 2 further wells for local schools, as well as 2 VIP and 10 household latrines, benefiting around 350 school pupils and many more in the wider community.
Your support could mean:
$50 could provide five children with access to safe, clean water.
$150 could train two village caretakers to maintain the wells and latrines.
$500 could mean that 250 people will have proper sanitation for the first time in their lives.
$1,000 could equip five schools with hand pumps.
$5,000 could fully construct a well for one school, which could provide enough safe water for 600 children.
