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WATER AND SANITATION PROJECT FOR ST JOSEPH CENTRE
St Joseph Centre in Kerugoya Town of Kirinyaga County was established in 1928 as a missionary primary School with a special unit for the mentally & physically challenged children. Over the years, the Centre has grown as an education institution and is currently running three units namely; the Special unit; Primary school, and Secondary School.The Centre mainly caters for pupils and students from the lower income families living in and around Kerugoya town (i.e. from families that cannot afford to pay fees charged by the private schools - most children of the middle and higher income families are schooling in the numerous private owned schools in Kerugoya town).
Given the very nature of its catchment (pupils & students of the poor families), the Centre has been experiencing financial constraints to sustain basic education services e.g. lack of learning materials, dilapidated infrastructure (lack of safe & hygienic toilets and reliable water supply) due to diminished financial support from the Government and parents. In attempt to address Water and Sanitation deficiencies, the schools administration (BoMs and Community) have requested the Rotary Club of Kirinyaga for material or financial in support of the Centre's toilets, Water storage/distribution, Class rooms renovation and provision of an appropriate dining hall.
Total project cost is Kshs 5,770,000 (approximately US $ 55,000) and the Club has raised ksh 1,000,000(US $10,000) through a fundraising walk with the students, parents and the surrounding community.
Currently, St Joseph Centre has a total population of 923 as tabulated here below;
No. of Girls No. Boys Total
Special Unit & Primary School 343 355 698
Secondary Sch 92 108 200
Other Staff & Teachers 18 Women 7 Men 25
TOTAL 453
470
923
The above population shares only one (1) tap-stand for water with intermittent flow due to leakages/pipe bursts and lack of water storage tank in the compound.
To address this need, the Kirinyaga Rotary Club desires to partner with the Schools administration and the surrounding community to construct suitable toilet blocks, provide water storage tanks, renovate class rooms and construct a dining hall to adequately serve the different age groups and gender at the Centre.
Having received the project request, the Rotary Club of Kirinyaga has since been holding consultative meetings with the schools board of managements and the community to explore the best way to execute this project as well as define the roles of each stakeholder.
Project Inception& Sustainability
It is believed that the best gift parents can give to their children is education and it is with this desire that the St Joseph community (parents and the schools boards of management) approached the Rotary Club of Kirinyaga seeking support for improved educational facilities and learning environment. In response to this request, the Kirinyaga Rotary club jointly with the St Joseph Community has constituted a committee to plan, fundraise and implement this WASH project. While this project is the community's initiative, the Rotary Club shall provide guidance and ensure the effective transfer of knowledge to beneficiaries for project sustainability. The project shall, in all aspects be local (i.e. use locally available materials, locally acceptable technologies, seek funding locally/internationally and enhance local capacities to operate, maintain and repair the facilities).With enough funds the project should be completed within six months.
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