Project
Katembe Primary School
Project Complete!
Katembe Primary School is located within Kanungu District adjacent to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the south-western corner of Uganda. The school is a long-established Government-aided school providing education to the poorest children in the district. There is no other school choice for these children – the only other schools within an hour’s walking distance are private schools with higher fees that these children cannot afford. Katembe is an absolutely vital school with over 700 children registered, though the usual number attending is approximately 600-650 as some cannot afford the small fee contribution (less than $10 per term).
In 2021 the school was in danger of closing permanently due to a lack of latrines – the single existing latrine block was on the verge of collapse. Our implementing partner, Omushana Sunshine for Children, was able to raise sufficient funds to repair the existing block and construct a new block which means the school has been permitted to open again in 2022 and the pupils are enjoying their new latrine facilities!
However, the school still has no water on site. Currently, water has to be collected and brought to the school every day from the nearest stream and is only enough for hand washing - the majority of the children go all day without access to drinking water. The nearest stream is approximately 500m down a steep road then another 300m on a small track. When they reach the stream the children have to fill heavy jerry cans. If the river flow is high it is too dangerous for the children - they have to rely on local adults to help them. Then they carry this water all the way back up to the school. These pupils not only suffer a difficult and sometimes risky task every morning, they also miss up to an hour of school while performing this hard work.
Water is poured directly (no filtering or boiling) into a plastic container. Soap is added so that the water is suitable for washing hands and to prevent the children from using it to drink – it is not clean enough to drink. Even so, children are sometimes seen drinking this soapy dirty water because they become so thirsty during the school day.
Katembe School desperately needs a water supply so that pupils can focus on attending classes rather than collecting water and so that all the pupils can enjoy good hygiene and clean water to drink during the day.
However, the school still has no water on site. Currently, water has to be collected and brought to the school every day from the nearest stream and is only enough for hand washing - the majority of the children go all day without access to drinking water. The nearest stream is approximately 500m down a steep road then another 300m on a small track. When they reach the stream the children have to fill heavy jerry cans. If the river flow is high it is too dangerous for the children - they have to rely on local adults to help them. Then they carry this water all the way back up to the school. These pupils not only suffer a difficult and sometimes risky task every morning, they also miss up to an hour of school while performing this hard work.
Water is poured directly (no filtering or boiling) into a plastic container. Soap is added so that the water is suitable for washing hands and to prevent the children from using it to drink – it is not clean enough to drink. Even so, children are sometimes seen drinking this soapy dirty water because they become so thirsty during the school day.
Katembe School desperately needs a water supply so that pupils can focus on attending classes rather than collecting water and so that all the pupils can enjoy good hygiene and clean water to drink during the day.
Project Proposal: Connect to an existing gravity spring-fed pipe system.
This would provide a reliable, limitless supply of water and has the extra advantage that by bringing piped water to the school it will also be possible for the local communities to extend the pipes and put in taps to serve local villagers. So although this proposal focuses on connecting directly to the school, the benefits will be far greater, benefiting hundreds of families.
This would provide a reliable, limitless supply of water and has the extra advantage that by bringing piped water to the school it will also be possible for the local communities to extend the pipes and put in taps to serve local villagers. So although this proposal focuses on connecting directly to the school, the benefits will be far greater, benefiting hundreds of families.
There is an existing gravity-fed water system running from an abundant spring in the Bwindi Forest hills to a nearby village (less than 1km away). Connection to this system is possible (the pipes are of a sufficient gauge) provided a tank reservoir is installed at the point of connection to ensure there is a continuous water supply to all areas served by this supply.
In addition to the taps at the school, this proposal involves the installation of the essential reservoir tank and laying of approximately 800m of pipes in trenches with sufficient capacity to serve the school and local villages.
Parents and local community members have committed to dig all the trenches. A local resident who is also a teacher at Katembe School recently held his 30th birthday fundraiser which resulted in the purchase of 3 rolls of pipes which he has donated to the project. The community will also be responsible for providing connections and taps which serve the community and contribute timbers and poles required during construction.
H2O for Life is not a WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) project implementer. We have partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) implementing WASH in Schools projects around the world. Our NGO partners match funds needed for each school project. We also have a generous donor that provides us with an interest-free loan that, along with matching funds, allows for many projects to be started or possibly even completed before total funds have been raised. In rare situations we reserve the right to reallocate funds to alternate project(s).
Questions? Ask us at 651-756-7577 or info@h2oforlifeschools.org.
Project Sponsors
November 11, 2022
Katembe Project Complete
This year saw the completion of Omushana’s most exciting water project. Along with many of the surrounding villages, Katembe School, a large government primary school with over 600 pupils, has...
