New Toilets for Schools in Kilifi, Kenya 2018

New Toilets for Schools in Kilifi, Kenya 2018

Progress Reports

February 2019

Here are some photos of the Vitsapuni Primary School toilet block in progress. An official handover to the school will take place when the toilets are complete and this will provide us with a photo opportunity.

Detailed planning for the much larger Dera Tumaini Primary school project is taking place, where 4 blocks of student toilets and one teachers block will be built. The work has gone out to tender with local builders and a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed with the school and the PTA within the next few weeks, relating to the longer term maintenance of the projects. We hope to break ground before March 1st.

April 2019

The toilets at Vitsapuni Primary School are mostly complete; the hand washing stations need to be built.

The builders have broken ground on the Dera Tumaini Primary School where 4 blocks of toilets are being built for students (24 toilets) as well as two teacher toilets.

It is hoped to have a ceremonial opening and handover at both schools in July, when a health trainer will hold his sessions with the students and teachers.

June/July 2019
Report from Kate Crowley, past President of Kilifi Rotary Club and principal Rotary Foundation Grant contact

We had a very exciting week of Rotary, holding our health and hygiene trainings with the students at Vitsapuni Primary School and Dera Tumaini Primary School, opening the toilets officially for them, and then installing our new President.

On Thursday, four team members travelled out to Vitsapuni Primary school (about two hours away). Included in the team were two trainers - Alfred and Tatu - who are experts in sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health. They held a training day with the school's health club. The first session was a joint session on water and sanitation, proper use of the new toilets, how to keep them clean, and how to stay disease free. The second session was predominantly a girls menstrual health and hygiene session, but Alfred took the boys aside and was able to also hold discussions with them about their challenges, needs, etc. As they held the trainings, the school set up for performances that lead up to the official opening of the toilets. This school's colors are dark blue and light blue, and you can see the toilets have been painted accordingly.

On Friday, the same training was brought to Dera Tumaini Primary School (much closer at only 20 minutes away). As it was a Friday, we had much greater Rotary member participation as well and it was a very large event! The event was graced by the member of Parliament for Kilifi North (our constituency), Owen Baya, who officially cut the ribbons at the ceremony. We were again impressed by Alfred and Tatu's successful training, and the students' wonderful performances which included poems about the environment and a drama about the needs for toilets in schools. As we have built 4 blocks of toilets for the students and 1 block for the teachers (26 total stalls!), it was really an amazing moment to see so many new toilets being available for the schools use.

We are planning to do the cement signs at the entrances to the schools with the Rotary logo on them.

The project as been completed within budget with funds remaining so we are working on a proposal for approval from RI to use up the remaining funds. Current ideas including building another block of toilets, doing some repairs to water infrastructure, or further implementing a water, sanitation, and menstrual health program for the students.

March 2020

With the outstanding funds following the completion of the initial project, a set of latrines was constructed for the Kikwanguloni Primary School. Photographs of the opening ceremony at the school are ahown at the top of this page; hover mouse over pictures for details.