School Partnerships

Schools in Kenya are often one of the main centers and meeting places in rural communities.  These rural primary schools have proven to be an excellent partner for the ACI program. The schools provide an accessible public space for the Community Development Entrepreneurs (CDEs) to demonstrate, promote and sell filters and safe water storage containers to the surrounding community.  The schools benefit by being able to use all the ACI products that are demonstrated at the schools – biosand filters, safe water storage containers, hand washing stations and soon rainwater harvesting systems.  The students learn about good water, sanitation and hygiene practices through the ACI school Water & Hygiene Clubs that are run in partnership with the school and the local ACI Community Health Promoter (CHP).  The school clubs are targeted at the older students at the primary school as they are at the age that they are beginning to take more responsibility for the water needs at the household level.  It is well known that children are early adopters of new ideas and practices and ACI places a strong emphasis on child led education.  Community members are able to visit the school and see all the ACI products at first hand and try them out for themselves.  For some people, tasting the water and seeing a biosand filter in use is an important step before making their own filter purchase.  For others, the school operates as a place of continuing education about good water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practice.

So, how does a school get involved with the ACI program in the first place?  ACI only operates its program where it is invited.  The District Education Officer holds a meeting for the local primary schools in an educational zone.  ACI staff meet with the school head teachers and explain the program and what a potential partnership with a school would entail.  Interested schools submit an application form and ACI selects the schools for the next round of expansion based upon a number of criteria e.g. current WASH situation and location of school etc.  The next step is that the school administration in partnership with the parent-teacher association and the local chiefs nominate community members to go forward for training as ACI Community Development Entrepreneurs and Community Health Promoters.  After training, the school Water & Hygiene Clubs begin operating and the sample bio-sand filters, hand washing stations and safe water storage containers are installed.  Again, the partnership requires input from both parties, and the schools must provide the wooden stands for the safe water storage containers and hand washing stations as well as ensuring that all the ACI products are exemplary demonstrations of proper use for the surrounding community.

As ACI expands its product range to rainwater harvesting and affordable sanitation, the model will remain the same.  Demonstration at schools and low cost, high quality products available for sale to the local community.  ACI also aims to help schools achieve the UN WASH Friendly Schools status through partnership with ACI which includes adequate supply of safe drinking water, good hygiene practice and proper sanitation facilities (especially for girls).

Are you interested in supporting a school partnership with Aqua Clara?   Contact us for more details of how to help a rural primary school in Kenya reach the WASH Friendly School status and also help support a locally run ACI school based business!