Rotarians Construct New Toilets for Students in Kangemi
By Ndegwa Timothy
The Rotary Club of Westlands – Nairobi in collaboration with the Ngao Foundation, embarked on a crucial project aimed at addressing the sanitation needs of Morning Star Elite Educational School. The initiative aligns with Rotary International’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) pillar and contributes to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Morning Star Elite Educational School, located in the Kangemi informal settlement, faced significant challenges in providing adequate sanitation facilities for its students. With a student population exceeding two hundred, the school had only two toilets serving both children and teachers. Moreover, the scarcity of water further exacerbated the situation, hindering proper hygiene practices.
Recognizing the urgent need for improved sanitation, The Rotary Club of Westlands and the Ngao Foundation, a community charitable foundation, collaborated to construct a new ablution block at Morning Star Elite School. The project aimed to build seven toilets and a urinal for boys, ensuring gender-segregated facilities to uphold privacy and hygiene standards.
The Ngao Foundation and Rotary Club of Westlands actively engaged with the school administration, assessing the requirements and designing an ablution and sanitation facility that would meet the needs of the students and staff. Construction commenced following the planning phase, and the project progressed efficiently under the collaborative efforts of both organizations.
The completion of the project resulted in the establishment of seven well-equipped toilets and a urinal for boys at Morning Star Elite Educational School. The newly constructed facilities now serve the entire school population, providing a significant improvement in sanitation and hygiene conditions. The gender-segregated facilities contribute to ensuring privacy and dignity, particularly for adolescent students.
Morning Star Elite School is situated in the Kangemi informal settlement, an area grappling with strained social amenities due to rapid population growth. Access to water is a persistent challenge, with limited supply from the Nairobi Water Company. The new toilets address a crucial aspect of sanitation, promoting better hygiene practices within the school and the surrounding community.
The successful completion of this project underscores the positive impact that collaborative efforts between NGOs like The Ngao Foundation and community organizations such as the Rotary Club of Westlands can achieve. The improved sanitation facilities at Morning Star Elite Educational School contribute to the overall well-being and health of the students, fostering a conducive learning environment.
As we celebrate the successful implementation of this initiative, we look forward to continued partnerships that address critical community needs and contribute to sustainable development. “
