Female pupils at Mlanda Primary school hated going to the toilets whenever they were in their menstrual periods. The toilets were dark, smelly, and always overflowing. The children held their breath and hoped they wouldn’t bump into anything in the dim light. Worse still, there was no running water to clean up after using the facilities.
It was all smiles when the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project came to Mlanda village. They implemented numerous changes to bring clean water and improved sanitation to the people of the community. One of their projects was to renovate and modernize the toilets at Mlanda primary school.
The pupils watched with excitement as the old toilets were demolished to make way for new, bright, and clean ones. WADA had also installed a water tank, which was filled regularly to ensure the pupils had water for hygiene purposes.
On the first day back at school after the renovations, the kids were overjoyed! They all rushed to the bathrooms to check out the new facilities. It was like night and day compared to what they’d been used to: No more nasty odors. It was now clean, fresh air circulating, in a clean environment as well. Water was flowing out of taps. The newly constructed toilets were shining, and the kids couldn’t believe their eyes.
The improvements of the toilets at Mlanda primary school were just one part of the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) programs in the village, but they had a significant impact. The pupils are now focusing more on their studies instead of being distracted by poor hygiene, and this saw the school enrollment picking up. For the students, it was a lesson in the power of clean water and improved sanitation.
The story of Mlanda primary school is just one example of the positive impact of the WADA projects, funded by USAID, Coca-Cola Foundation, and World Serve International implemented by Amref Tanzania, Global Environment & Technology Foundation, & Global Partners for Development that is making a significant difference in children’s education and health. By providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities, they are transforming the lives of children and communities in remote areas around Tanzania.
