Saint Leonard School Handwashing Station Project – Rwanda

Location
Nyagatare Sector, Nyagatare District, Rwanda

Community Description
Located in northeastern Rwanda and bordering both Uganda and Tanzania, Nyagatare District is Rwanda’s largest and most rural district. It is populated largely by returned refugees who fled Rwanda during the civil and ethnic conflict that began at independence and culminated in the 1994 genocide.

The area where the district capital is now located was previously part of Akagara National Park and was separated from the park following the genocide to provide a place for returning refugees. Today, the town has approximately 15,000 residents, and the population is expected to continue increasing rapidly in the coming years.

Saint Leonard Nursery and Primary School offers three years of nursery school, as well as the standard six years of primary education. The school has 300 girls and 200 boys and is run by an extremely dedicated staff of 13 women and 14 men. Unfortunately, some basic infrastructure is lacking, and there is currently no place for people at the school to wash their hands.

Project Description
This project is to purchase and install four 50-liter water tanks, which will serve as handwashing stations near the latrines and near the classrooms.

The tanks are plastic and will be purchased with faucets installed. They will be placed outside – two near the entrance to the classrooms and two near the latrines.

The school will hire a construction worker to set up the tanks and install the faucets. The tanks will sit on stools the school already has and will be drained using plastic basins they already have.

Project funds will be used to purchase tanks and faucets and to cover labor costs.

Teachers at the school will take turns filling the tanks, using water from the school’s main water reserve.

As schools in Rwanda have just finished the final term of the year, the project will be completed during vacation, and the handwashing stations will be ready for use when the students return to school.

At the beginning of the school year, teachers will educate students on the importance of handwashing and instruct them in the proper use of the stations.

Project Impact
527 people will benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Jennifer Ambrose

Comments
This project will promote hygiene and reduce disease by providing students, staff, and visitors with a place to wash their hands. It uses the simplest technology which has been determined by the community to satisfy their needs.

Dollar Amount of Project
$440.00

Donations Collected to Date
$440.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative, with the help of friends and family of PCV Jennifer Ambrose.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Jennifer of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by the PCV and/or other projects in the country of service.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.