Construction of Bathrooms with Flush Toilets and Washing Sink at Gajal Primary School

Diseases are easily spread by hands cleaned with sand or wiped on the grass.

At Gajal Primary School, toilets are dry holes in the ground. Children clean themselves with sand or by wiping their hands on the grass, and they spread diseases when they return to class. Today, Gajal is the second largest school in Ayalagaya with close to 800 students. They share the two stall in the picture.

In partnership with Mary’s Mercy Foundation, Karimu constructed new bathrooms for the children, teachers and school staff.

The project encompasses:

• Construction of children’s bathrooms with flush toilets (including stalls for disabled kids) and faucets for cleaning

• Construction of teachers’ bathrooms with flush toilets with faucets for cleaning so adults and children are not sharing the same bathrooms.

• Septic tank to keep the environment clean

• Construction of large sink with several faucets for hand-washing

The project encompasses:

• Construction of girls’ bathrooms with

  • 20 stalls with flush toilets, including stalls for disabled kids

  • 3 faucets for hand washing

  • mirrors

  • private, outside area to wash and dry clothes

  • flexible water hose for personal hygiene in some of the stalls

  • private room with access to menstrual pads, toilet, and shower

  • incinerator

• Construction of boys’ bathrooms with

  • 14 stalls with flush toilets, including stalls for disabled kids

  • 10 urinals

  • 3 faucets for hand washing

  • mirrors

• Construction of teachers’ bathroom (so adults and children are not sharing the same bathroom) with separate sections for female and male teachers - each section with sink for handwashing, mirrors, and 2 stalls with flush toilets and faucets for hand washing

• Septic tank to keep the environment clean

• Construction of large sink with 16 faucets for hand-washing

Cost: $66,227

• Construction of children’s bathrooms: estimated cost $57,478.00

• Construction of teachers’ bathrooms: estimated cost $6,805.00

• Construction of large sink: estimated cost $1,944.00

The community contributed $1770 plus labor, rocks for foundation, clearing the land, and cleaning the terrain once construction was completed. They also contributed with one desk and one chair for each classroom and office in the school.

Expected benefits:

• Reduction of disease and increase of menstrual hygiene

• Higher school attendance and enrollment

• Improved performance on national exam

• Increase of school retention rate for girls

• Empowerment of girls

Learn more about Karimu Education Program .