Overview:
This project will address the risk of poor sanitation and water-borne diseases through the construction of 10 (of 30 in total) child-friendly pit latrines in 5 (of 15) rural primary schools in the Bulawayo region. A full week’s program of Participatory Health and Hygiene Education (PHHE) will be held in each school and will include training in soap-making using low-cost materials. The programs involve a hands-on, participatory style of teaching through drama, song and dance. School health clubs, comprising students and supervising teachers, will also be formed to keep up active interest and participation in healthy sanitation habits for the longterm.
Why support this:
Our partner has a strong track record and takes a multifaceted approach to health and hygiene. It focusses on young people and teachers within schools, with the expectation that positive effects will filter out to the wider community. A great strength of our partner is their emphasis on instilling a sense of ownership, partnership and empowerment through community engagement with the planning and implementation process. The community is also required to provide building materials including bricks and sand. This all ensures the long-term maintenance of infrastructure. The project also employs locals who are trained in brick- laying and building, helping to support the local economies.
Budget: $32,000 for a one-year project.
The Need:
Water is a huge need in Zimbabwe with the country suffering periodic droughts. Combine this with poverty, a failing economy and political instability, then it is no wonder that clean water sources are in extremely short supply with local populations reliant on unsafe or unclean water. Our partners estimate 50% of rural schools have very poor water supply infrastructure with little or no storage and broken or malfunctioning pumps. Most children and adults suffer from water borne illnesses and more water sources and sanitation facilities are urgently needed. Where toilet infrastructure in schools does it exist, it often fails to meet the standards for very young children who tend to avoid the safety hazards of large pit latrines.
Expected Life Change:
