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Introduction This is a proposal by the Rotary Club of Elgon - Bungoma to seek funds to improve the sanitation facilities at Chemuses RC primary school, a public school in Mt. Elgon, Bungoma County, Kenya. The club wants to raise funds through a global grant from the Rotary Foundation and is therefore seeking an international club as a partner. This is part of the club's School shape up project, tackling one school at a time. Background Education is a powerful driver of development and is one of the strongest instruments for improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability. While Kenya has made tremendous progress in developing the education sector in the country especially with regards to enrolment in primary school, the education system struggles to deliver quality education. The main challenges in Kenya include overcrowding in schools, high teacher pupil ratio and inadequate learning and sanitation facilities and resources. School shape up - one school at a time. The idea to start the School shape up one school at a time was conceived after the club implemented a joint project of all rotary Clubs of Elgon. The club was responsible for supervising the project in three public schools - Chemuse RC, Nalondo secondary and Cherendio SDA primary school. In the process, the poor state of the schools became clear. At the same time teachers and local leaders made an impassioned plea to the club for additional support to the school. The club therefore proposes to start with Chemuses RC primary school where the greatest needs were felt and the school has been threatened with closure. Chemuses RC Primary School Chemuses RC primary school was started in 1972. The school has 827 pupils, (boys 400 and girls 427) and 22 teachers. The children are from neighboring Chemuses area which is one of the low income areas of Cheptais. They are therefore poor families that struggle to make ends meet mostly through small businesses. 30% of the pupils are orphaned and live with relatives. The school lacks desks, a library, teaching aids and the school buildings are in need of renovation. However, health and sanitation is the area of most concern. The school has a total of 10 toilets, 2 for teachers, 4 for boys and 4 for girls. This translates to at least 17 teachers per toilet and almost 166 children per toilet! This means precious learning time is wasted queueing for toilets by both teachers and pupils. The toilets are also in dire state and in need of renovation. The school also has an open air makeshift kitchen where porridge is prepared for students in a bid to encourage school attendance. The kitchen is unsanitary and open to the elements.
Why Rotary club of Elgon - Bungoma As earlier mentioned, the Rotary club of Elgon - Bungoma has been working with the school since 2013. The club has therefore developed good rapport with the school community including teachers and the school board. The club has also started to work toward improving education at the school by establishing a reading club at the school in 2015 Literacy month. The club members donated over 200 books to the school and is currently raising funds through a car wash project to purchase additional books for the school. The school is in the same district as where the club meets and some members live close to it. The proximity will therefore make it relatively easy to manage and monitor the project. Project outcome Improved health and sanitation The main proposed activities to improve the health and Sanitation at Chemuses RC Primary school will include Construction of 8 additional toilets and refurbishment of the existing ones. Training of the school community, student, teachers and parents on sanitation and disease control. We will work with a partner to conduct the training Refurbishing the kitchen area How project will be executed Rotary club of Elgon - Bungoma club members will work with the school board of governors and local community leaders in the project. We will bring in expertise for the construction of the toilets and the refurbishing of the kitchen. To empower the youth, we will ensure that all the partners we work with involve the youth in executing the project by providing them with employment. Sustainability In a meeting held with the school members of the school management team they expressed commitment to the project. They have confirmed that they will take full responsibility for the project and ensure facilities are well maintained. The school also has a good track record as they have taken good care of the previously installed water system which continues to work well. For sustainability we will ensure follow-up visits are done by club members every month for a period of one year. At the same as a club, we will keep constant touch with the school and respond if need arises Cost estimates We estimate that the entire health and sanitation project will cost approximately 30,000 USD broken down as below
Outcome - Improved health and sanitation Budget USD a. Construction of 8 additional toilets with hand washing facilities 19,367 b. Refurbishment of existing toilet block 1,778 c. Upgrading the kitchen including installation of energy efficient wood stoves 5,333 Water/ snacks for Volunteers to assist, 8 times 178 Contingency 15% 3,893 Total 30,549
Conclusion The project is part of an initiative dubbed Shape Up A school -one at a time as it is expected to be the first of many in improving primary schools in Elgon -Bungoma. As a club we want to start with sanitation and then move on to other areas. The success of the project will have a great and positive impact on the lives of young children in Kenya.
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