A better tomorrow for generations to come

Published in September 2025

Due to water scarcity, the children at Kitile Primary School, in southeast Kenya, were left unable to enjoy their experience in school. We spoke to the deputy headteacher, Eunice Muema, and various pupils to understand what school was like before a water tank was built and how things are looking up since it’s implementation. 

Kitile Primary School, found in Mwala sub-county, southeast Kenya, is located against a backdrop of rolling hills and lush greenery. Despite this natural abundance, there was a water scarcity problem that continued to have adverse effects on the school and its staff anf pupils.

With the only water source being a stream located several kilometres from the school, fetching water was a physically, mentally and time draining task. This affected the pupils, from their ability to concentrate in the classroom to their energy to play in the playground. Also, without water on site to cook school lunches, to quench thirst in the heat or to wash hands after using the toilet, pupils could not enjoy school fully or safely. Eunice Muema explains:

“Before this project was put in place, we suffered completely as a school. We lacked water to cook food, drink and clean ourselves. At times we would have to send children to get water during the day and other times we [the teachers] had to buy water for the school”.

Prior to the water tank, pupils would trek long distances to the aforementioned stream, carrying heavy jerry cans, in turn, missing hours of learning as well as posing a risk to their physical health due to needing to carry heavy cans and using water from scoop holes that were often contaminated.

The task worsened when the days grew hotter as more people were at the stream and it took even longer to collect water. This led to reduced school attendance as children (especially the younger ones) would stay at home to help their families fetch water, severely disrupting the education for some, and some others missing school completely.

Hearing the struggles of the pupils and school staff, Sand Dams Worldwide and our local partner, Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF), enabled the construction of a school water tank to help overcome their challenges.

Mutheu Mutinda, a pupil, explains how her experience has shifted since the school water tank, namely her happiness with her social life and the sense that she will always be provided for at school. She says:

“I lacked water on several occasions making my life hard in school. After engaging in sports activities, I would come back very thirty and hopeless to get even a drop of water. Now, water is readily available I can play as much as I want because I know my thirst is taken care of.”

Access to a clean and reliable water source at the school has become a point of pride and joy and it has built a better tomorrow for generations to come.

The achievements attained by the school in collaboration with Sand Dams Worldwide and ASDF is summarised by Eunice, who happily states that:

“We have a lot of clean water with us and so far, so good. I am a happy teacher in a water secure school; I brag a lot about this!”

Please donate what you can today and protect children’s health and education with school water tanks and access to clean water