To build sanitation facilities for children in school and the community in Ghana to improve health and prevent death.
The problem
Families are becoming increasing aware of the importance of education in Ghana but toilet facilities in schools is rare with many using pit latrines constructed years ago, which are almost full and many more do not have access to latrines at all. This situation contributes significantly to pupils’ absenteeism and dropouts from school. Parents are reluctant to send their children, and in particular girls, to school because pupils will have to queue for hours and fight to use the very few existing toilets. There are particular problems for the girls as the toilets are shared when they are on the menstrual cycle they have no privacy and at risk of infection due to the lack of hygienic facilities. In many schools students are forced to defecate behind the classrooms because of the lack of facilities causing serious health risk to all. The younger children are not able to wait for long time and will often have an accident opening them up to bullying and time away from schooling for themselves and the other children while the teachers deal with the situation making it difficult for teachers and pupils to effectively follow the curriculum. The challenge we are facing now is to build new separate facilities for males and females.
The solution
To build more toilet facilities in local schools
What we expect to achieve
Higher pupils’ and girls’ enrolment, retention and academic success rate.
Girls will feel more confident and finish their education.
Improvement of the academic performances of the pupils
Improvement of pupils’ self-esteem and well-being
Improved health and less death from diarrhea disease one of the five leading causes of death in Ghana and the leading cause of death in under fives.
Teachers’ high productivity and student concentration.
Better sanitation and hygiene conditions.