Location
Namirama Sub-Location, Bunyala East Location, Navakholo Division, Kakamega Central District, Western Province, Kenya
Community Description
Siyombe community is situated in a remote rural region of Kenya near River Nzoia, bordering Bungoma District. It is generally underdeveloped, and is dominated by a lack of education and poor health, which have led to poverty.
Siyombe community has a population of approximately 5,000 people. 2,000 people plant maize and vegetables for food/to sell. 2,000 people plant sugarcane asa cash crop, which takes 24 months to mature for harvest. In contrast to this, the remaining 1,000 earn their income from small business by selling cattle, chicken, goats, sheep and even dogs.
In terms of special education, Namirama Sub-Location has 2 special units for children with mental and/or physical disabilities. The two units are situated in different schools far apart from each other. As Siyombe is more remote than the other unit, the students have to walk far to reach school, often in bare feet. Currently, this unit serves 32 students, from Class 1 to Class 7, but these numbers are expected to rise in the next few years, as more students will be admitted to the program.
There is no special pit latrine for disabled students, some of whom have walking disabilities. In particular, the students who have Cerebral Palsy have to crouch down to use the common latrines. Some do not have proper balance, so crouching becomes problematic. They have to crawl on the ground to access the latrine, which is difficult, unhygienic, and an affront on their personal dignity.
Project Description
This project is to build a latrine for disabled students at the Siyombe Primary School. The latrine will be built on the special unit plot, and will have 3 chambers.
The project will be carried out by the Siyombe Special Needs Rehabilitation Project, which represents the disabled students, their parents, the Education Office, the Social Work Office, the area Chief of the Location and the District Officer of Navakholo Division
A project development committee has been set up in order to manage the project. A construction manager and a finance manager have been recruited in order to keep the project on schedule and within budget.
The structure will have 3 doors, each wide enough for a wheelchair, with flat entrances. There will be 2 regular pit latrines on the ground for those students whose physical abilities permit. There will be a 3rd raised pit latrine, so that when a student enters the latrine he can move directly from his wheelchair to the raised blocks.
Project funds will pay for construction materials, including bricks, cement, timber, sand, mesh wires, metal bars, nails, iron sheets, paint and a shutter.
The work will be done by two groups of masons and carpenters who are qualified. They recently constructed a similar latrine at the home of a disabled person within the community.
Project Impact
Approximately 50 students will benefit directly from this project within the next year or two. Currently, enrollment is 32 students in the unit.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Sarah Sisaye
Comments
This latrine will help reduce the rate of disease among the students and improve their dignity and well-being.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00 + additional funds
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of the Elmo Foundation with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Sarah Sisaye, with additional funds for future projects from Jane Bryan, of Wilmette, IL, USA.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Sarah of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by her and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.