Shortly after arrival we received a warm welcome from the pupils who sang the Zambian National Anthem and recited poems, we all then introduced ourselves and Matt explained what we were doing there.
The school was built in 1935 and today has 900 pupils all from surrounding villages and 22 teachers.
It was only in 2008 when WaterAid funded the construction of 8 latrines, 3 hand wash taps and one water pump.
Before WaterAid's help pupils were regularly off school with dioreah and cholora and attendance was just 20%.
Since the installation of the latrines, taps and hand pump, attendance is now approximately 90%, some children have baths at school and both exam pass rates and personal hygiene standards have improved. Just from my own observation, all pupils washed their hands with soap after using the latrines.
The latrine blocks and hand washing points at the school
The school has also moved forward in other ways, there is a committee which has been set up to maintain the toilets and small water cooler-type storage facilities have been put in so pupils can easily access water.
I also got the chance to speak to some of the pupils. They have all seen an improvement, not only in their own health since the latrines and water pumps were installed, but also in their family's health too. Pupils are expected to teach their parents the importance of clean water and sanitation and they say their patents are not ill now as a result.
The children were really inspiring, they all wanted to have a career as doctors, nurses, teachers and accountants, one said he even wanted to work for WaterAid!
Speaking with pupils
Following that we then met His Royal Highness Chief Ufwenuka, he is in charge of the local area. When we met him we each individually had to get down on two knees in front of him, clap five times then shake his hand while looking humble. This ritual was taken extremely seriously and you could tell people respected him (when I see you, you must ask me to explain the chair).
Following a bit of singing and dancing with the pupils we visited a nearby village, Mavwali and again we were given an amazing welcome.
Every place we go there is singing, dancing and celebration which shows just how thankfull communities are for WaterAid's (and in turn your) help and donations.
We heard that before WaterAid's help in 2007 villagers were regularly dying because of dirty water and no sanitation. The river they got their water from to drink was the same one cattle would use to drink and cool down in and faeces would also wash into the river, consiquently disease was rife.
When it was first explained to the villagers that the sickness and premature deaths were due to poor water and sanitation they did not believe it.
Now each house has its own latrine and there is a communal water pump sickness levels have dropped considerably and they now understand.
After I thanked the villagers for welcoming us and explained why we were there we went and had a look round.
What struck me was how entrepreneurial they all were and keen to build on what WaterAid had started to further better the village.
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The entreprenurial spirit of the villagers who devised their own handwashing points
They are all keen to set up little businesses, whether that's growing more crops to sell or having more cattle. Before WaterAid's help a lot of their time was spent fetching water so they could survive, now they have the water pump they do not need to keep walking to fetch water, that time is better spent building their businesses.
This village has embraced the sanitation so much that if people don't e.g. keep clean, keep up with their chores (pump maintenance) or deficate in the fields (like they used to) they would be banished (and that has happened)!
They also have an ingenious ways of not only monitoring if people are washing their hands after using the latrines, but also watering plants. Outside each toilet a simply pully contraption on which a container filled with water is hung, that container has the lid only partially screwed on. This means that when a foot presses on the base of this lever the water bottle tips up releasing a small amount of water to wash a person's hands. Below the container a plant is buried, if the plant grows it means people are washing their hands! To clean their hands they use ash instead of soap.
The village also has two committees which are responsible for maintaining the water pump and latrines and villagers are also expected to think of ways to further improve their village, most recently they built a shower!
This village has embraced the sanitation so much that if people don't e.g. keep clean, keep up with their chores (pump maintenance) or deficate in the fields (like they used to) they would be banished (and that has happened)!
They also have an ingenious ways of not only monitoring if people are washing their hands after using the latrines, but also watering plants. Outside each toilet a simply pully contraption on which a container filled with water is hung, that container has the lid only partially screwed on. This means that when a foot presses on the base of this lever the water bottle tips up releasing a small amount of water to wash a person's hands. Below the container a plant is buried, if the plant grows it means people are washing their hands! To clean their hands they use ash instead of soap.
The village also has two committees which are responsible for maintaining the water pump and latrines and villagers are also expected to think of ways to further improve their village, most recently they built a shower!
A lot is said about whether we should send aid abroad, that people in Developing Countries just take it and nothing changes. Although I can't speak for all projects, the fact that WaterAid encourage people to continue improving is brilliant, and the fact they actually do it is amazing. They really are using this help as a springboard for a better life.
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