Health and Sanitation Bamboo Schools

In Nepal eight years of of conflict and political instability have resulted in increased poverty and a major health and education crisis. In schools the lack of access to health care services for the children and the lack of proper sanitation in schools are important factors in absenteeism and poor classroom performance, due to illness, low enrolment and early school dropout. The lack of hygiene education for teachers, students and their families is an aggravating factor of the situation.

Current status

In 2010 we started a project called "Pilot Project Jorpati Bamboo School Nepal". This project proved to be successfull and can now be implemented in other Bamboo schools (currently there are 16 in total with about 25,000 - 30.00 children). Within two weeks from now we and Impusis will receive the final report of the Pilot with detailed results (we already know that the outcome is very positive). This report also containts details of the follow up, namely the project for safe water and sanitation in another 2 Bamboo Schools, using the positive aspects of the pilot.

In two other Bamboo Schools, which are relatively close to the Shechen Medical Clinic (our fieldpartner) the project aims to connect the schools to safe water and to install 20 toilets per school. This will improve health conditions. By teaching the children and their parents proper hygienic practices and health principles will be achieved. Each school has approx. 1.500 - 2.000 pupils. The project will benefit them all, but girls in particular since they tend to leave school when they start menstruating due to inappropiate sanitation.

Bamboo Schools target the poorest areas with children from the most destitute and low caste families in Jorpati and in the surrounding area in Kathmandu Valley.

Outcomes:
- Two Bamboo Schools (approx. 4,000 children) have access to safe water and proper sanitation.
- These children use the 40 new-built toilets and they are trained in good sanitary practices.
- Considerably less children than the 40% each day in 2010 will be ill, which results in better educated children with improved self-esteem and self-confidence.

- To increase the level of health care.
- To lower the number of sick children (last year because of the lack of safe water and with only two toilets in a ramshackle condition per day 600 of the 1,500 pupils were ill).
- Awareness of the children and their families about proper hygienic practices and health principles will limit the risk of future illness.
- Better health conditions result in a more responsible and productive community.
- It also will improve the children's self-esteem and self-confidence

Goals

• Connection of 20 watertap system to water source
• 40 toilets (20 per school)
• Education on water, sanitation, hygiene, for 2 schools
• Level 5 Filtering for save drinking water

- Safe water, good sanitation, and health education will positively impact the future health of the community.
- The risk of future illness will also be limited by educating the children and their parents.
- Development of a more responsible and productive community as a result of better health conditions.
- Improvement of the children's self-esteem and self-confidence.