Community Development Entrepreneurs were trained to install rainwater harvesting systems at Amasege primary school and will sell low cost, high quality RWH units to the surrounding community
Narrative
At this particular school we placed two tanks and linked one of their existing tanks to one of ours. We placed a 7300 L tank with 20 M of high quality plastic gutter feeding it. We also placed a 2300 L tank connected to an existing 2300 L tank. Placing 29 M of gutter to feed these two tanks. Using high quality plastic gutter, new facia board and best practices of RWH systems we were able to construct a top notch RWH system. The ACI team worked with trained personnel from the surround community to educate and devolve information to the community. Speaking to the head teacher of Amasege Primary we discovered just how much information is getting out into the community. "I have had people coming to the school non stop for the last four days asking about the rain water system and expressing their interest in doing similar works in their own homes." Hearing about this only sends positive signs towards the future of the community and their ability to reduce the daily work load and increase access to water and sanitation.
Sustainability
Creating and measuring long-term impact
The community health promoter in the area will be holding meetings of a school club for the children twice a month. During these visits she will be able to check on the performance of the RWH system and report any problems she finds directly to the ACI office. The five USD is covered by the school according to the agreement the school and stakeholders signed prior to construction of the RWH system. This cost will cover any breakages due to poor use and silicone costs if the system begins to leak because of wear and tear on the gutter runs.
Other Issues
Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution
Our local staff representative at this school were not quick to subscribe to the type of construction we were doing and we constantly attempting to revert back to the commonly accepted way of constructing RWH systems in the region. After a few conversations and the very strong argument the finished product makes they finally came over to our way of thinking.
Learnings
Knowledge of project and process for sharing
It is very important to have your local representative be fully onboard with the construction method. We were challenged by this aspect but learned better ways of explaining and showing people so there is an all around better understanding of the process.
Impact
People Impacted: 367
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 365
Number of students, teachers and support staff present at the school on a given day. In conjunction with the ACI bio sand water filter program the filters will now be feed more easily reducing the distances traveled by students to collect water to previously feed the filters. We gathered this number through a survey given to all ACI partner schools prior to the implementation of the RWH program.
School Children Getting Water: 351
Total number to students, nursery school through standard eight present at the school on a normal day. We gathered this number through a survey given to all ACI partner schools prior to the implementation of the RWH program.
People Getting Sanitation: 365
Total number of students, teachers and support staff at the school on a given day. In conjunction with the ACI hand washing stations that are already present at the school and improved access to water within the school compound we have seen use go up by leaps and bounds. We gathered this number through a survey given to all ACI partner schools prior to the implementation of the RWH program.
People Getting Other Benefits: 2
Community development entrepreneur and community health promoter, both ACI trained personnel. Trained in RWH during the construction process now have a broader scope of products and expertise to offer to the community surrounding the school.
