Inspired by personal experience growing up in communities, where school-going children walk long distances to secure water for their families before/ after going to school causing absenteeism resulting to school drop-outs.

In 2013 we worked on research project about sustainable clean drinking water system across East Africa countries. The main insight gained was, all communities wished on an improved water system. Some rural/poor communities do not have a working tap water system at all, prompting school-going children and women to walk very long distances to secure water from neighboring communities’ wells/ rivers.

The problem with current water projects can be divided in:

• the water system with the technical components to get groundwater to the tap and
• the paying system that describes what to pay for, how to maintain the system and how the business is set up; the social system.

Thus, A WATER KIOSK AT SCHOOL. Setup at a school located in a generally poor/rural community with no working tap water system. Where it set to be the main source of clean water for all households. A Water Kiosk At School is a school-based and students-managed business selling clean tap water to community residents at an affordable price. It consists of financing a community school to set up onsite water kiosk with sustainable products for the students to transport tap water from school to their homes. It is both an educational and profitable business teaching the students business and entrepreneurial skills, and generating much-needed income for schools. It provides practical education bridging the gap between school and work. And contribute to development of a community with a school which is able to support itself.

A water kiosk at school is characterised by the fellowing environment friendly products developed in partnership with Join the Pipe Foundation:

• WATER SAVING TAP STATION - Our water stations not only provide clean drinking water but also save water. No water is wasted with our auto-stop tap! They are also vandal resistant
• DRIP TAPS for HAND WASHING FACILITIES -We build toilets and hand washing sinks to prevent waterborne illnesses to spread. Drip taps technology reduces 90% of water usage!
• WATER BOTTLES - We provide refillable water bottles for the children to drink from. Our refillable bottles are created specifically to symbolize different sections of a water pipe. They are made of BPA-free plastic .
• JERRY CARRY KARTS - These Jerry Carry Karts reduce the physical injury from constant lifting and carrying heavy loads of water on heads of the children.

Short Video: https://youtu.be/TVK5sZnLQ9Q

Project Results

Setup at a school located in a generally poor or rural community with no working tap water system. In a community, it set to be the main source of clean water for all households.

The multiple benefits associated with a water kiosk at school for students, school and community residents include:

Financially :

• The microcredit project for schools with a sustainable business model, creating money for WASH activities in school.
• A business model that allows funds to be redeployed to additional schools in need.

Improved Sanitation And Health :

• All sanitation facilities are improved around the school, the money from the water kiosk is used to purchase soap and toilet paper for the school children.
• Jerry carry karts reduce the physical injury from constant lifting and carrying heavy loads of water on the heads of the children.

Education And Capacity Development :

• Increased school attendance as children no longer need to absent themselves from school to secure water for their families.
• Work experience for students through the running the water kiosk. They learn about teamwork, commitment, leadership and responsibility.

Socioeconomic Opportunity:

• Children are able to transport water to their own homes straight from school.
• Increased safety as children do not have to go to remote and dangerous places to fetch water.
• A school kiosk saves time and waiting in lines at other water points.

Since the project launch in 2014 in Kenya, we have built:

• 10 Water Kiosks across 10 schools/ communities across Kenya!
• 4815 school children no longer absent from school to secure water for their families. They also have improved sanitation and health at their schools!
• 73087 people have access to clean tap water at an affordable price in their communities!
• The successful social business model has developed community solidarity. Profits are directed to developing local education and an entrepreneurial spirit among the youth.
• Invited by Rwanda Government to replicate the project in Rwanda.

The Water Kiosk at school Project has received various recognitions too:

• The Spindle’s (Third prize) -Best Innovation in development Award 2018.
• Exhibited as Africa’s Top 50 Innovations at 2018 Africa Innovation summit.
• Youth4South solution awareness, United Nations office for South to South Cooperation, 2017
• ESD (Educational Sustainable Development) Okayama Award 2016 – Global Prize.
• Global awards for Fund-raising 2015 - Big Impact Small Budget award category.
• Pan- African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education 2014.