Project Description

Lack of sanitary facilities was one of the critical problems at Sosola Primary school. Despite having 916 learners the school had only 4 toilets (2 for (445 boys and 2 for 471 girls) that were damaged and dangerous for children to use. This made children to urinate and defecate outside the toilet just because they were afraid to use them. This made children to be more susceptible to diseases like diarrhoea. The teachers’ toilets lacked privacy as the toilets had no doors and fence. When teachers wanted to use the toilets they were going to the toilets of the 3 teachers that were residing on the school premises. This led to inconveniences between the teachers and family members of those teachers. Further, the school had no changing rooms where girls could change their menstrual pads and clean themselves while in school. This made the girls feel insecure because of lack privacy when changing their menstrual pads. As a result, most girls pretended to be sick when they were undergoing menses so that they could not go to school. They could stay at home the whole week during menstruation and when they do that over few months, they dropped out from school because of losing interest or because of disappointing study results, and most of them got married. These dropout girls became vulnerable to gender-based violence as they often got married to men who were older than they (girls) were, who dominated and were sole decision makers in the family or relationship. The project improved the sanitation and hygiene practice at Sosola Primary School by constructing permanent toilets and changing rooms. The project constructed 10 toilets (2 for teachers, 4 for boys 4 for girls) and two changing rooms for girls. The project has also renovated the old teachers’ toilets by fixing the roof, floor, the walls and the fence to make the toilets more private. The changing rooms has helped to reduce school absenteeism among girls as they are now able to change their menstrual pads and clean themselves while in school during the time they are undergoing menstrual period. Project Results Increased the number of toilets at the school Improved sanitation and hygiene practice at the school Contributed to the reduction of school dropout among girls Contributed to the reduction of school absenteeism among Contributed improved classrooms performances among leaners. Teachers are now able to use the school toilets