Namatapa Primary School, located in Kaselema Village, Zomba District, serves 1,312 students (670 girls, 642 boys) with 27 teachers and a catchment population of approximately 19,000 people from 27 villages. The school relies on a functional borehole with an Afridev hand pump for water supply but with a toilet-to-student ratio of 262:1—well above the recommended 50:1 standard—the sanitation situation is critical.
The school has seven poorly maintained latrines (three for boys, two for girls, and two for teachers), many of which are damaged, lack roofs or doors, and pose a safety hazard, especially during the rainy season. Additionally, there are no urinals for boys or changing rooms for girls, leading to absenteeism during menstruation. Cyclone Freddy further exacerbated the crisis, destroying some latrines entirely.
The school community is willing to contribute local materials and labor to help support the project. This urgent intervention is essential to improve health, safety, and education outcomes for the students and staff. The project proposal includes:
- Construction of at least 17 VIP latrines
- Addition of urinals for boys and changing rooms for girls
- Decommissioning of hazardous structures
- A potential mechanized borehole for piped water
H2O for Life partners with experienced NGO organizations around the world that build and support clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education projects in schools. These NGO partners cover half the total cost of every project funded through H2O for Life.
When students raise money for a project, 90% of the funds go directly to the project, and 10% supports the work that makes the project possible. This includes choosing trusted partners, managing funds responsibly, checking on projects, and reporting back so students can see the impact of their work.
This helps ensure every project is done well, stays sustainable, and truly changes lives.
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.
