Reducing Waterborne Diseases in 131 Kenyan Schools

Objectives

• End-Year Program Assessment: Evaluate the achievements and challenges faced in the 2025 WASH Program in 10 partner schools.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Gather direct feedback from head teachers and teacher health champions on the program’s impact and areas of improvement.
• 2026 Planning Preparation: Review and initiate planning for the 2026 WASH Program.

Activity Summary

1.1) Conduct End Year Impact Evaluation Workshop for Head Teachers (October 13th)

Day One-Head Teacher Training

The primary objective of the October 2025 End Year Workshop was to assess the impact of the WASH intervention in primary schools across Mumias East Sub-County. This workshop provided an opportunity to measure progress against the baseline data from January 2025, focusing on reductions in student illness, improvements in menstrual hygiene, and overall health benefits resulting from enhanced WASH facilities.

1.2) Conduct End Year Impact Evaluation Workshop for Teacher Health Champions (October 14th) Day Two- Teacher Health Champions Training

 The objective of the second-day training was to engage teacher health champions who are essential to implementing and sustaining the WASH program in their respective schools. This session aimed to support these champions with practical tools, address program challenges, and create a forum for exchanging ideas to strengthen hygiene practices and health awareness among students.

  Activities/Proceedings

13^th October 2025 - Head Teachers’ and BoM End-Year Training

• WE REACH held a Head Teachers’ WASH Review Workshop bringing together school heads and BOM Representatives from all 10 partner schools to reflect on the year’s implementation progress.
• The session began with a recap of the WE REACH WASH Strategy, highlighting achievements made in 2025, followed by a presentation of End Year survey data comparing baseline and current outcomes.
• Findings showed major improvements, including a 70.3% reduction in water-related illnesses, 33.4% decrease in menstrual hygiene challenges, and 67.7% reduction in skin and oral infections among learners.
• After the data presentation, participants engaged in group discussions to provide feedback and reflections on the program’s impact.
• Head teachers shared success stories such as increased school attendance, improved hygiene practices, and greater learner engagement in health clubs.
• One head teacher remarked, “Our learners no longer miss class due to waterborne diseases, it’s a real transformation.”
• The session concluded with recommendations on improving infrastructure maintenance, community sensitization, and enhancing school-level ownership for sustainability.
• The Teacher Health Champions Workshop brought together teacher champions from partner schools to assess behavior change and learning outcomes achieved through the WASH program.
• The workshop began with a recap of the WE REACH WASH Strategy and a presentation of End Year survey data, highlighting progress made since baseline and how it reflects in daily school routines.
• Teachers then provided feedback and practical insights on classroom integration of WASH messages, student health clubs, and menstrual hygiene management.
• They shared creative approaches such as drama, songs, and peer learning sessions that have sustained hygiene behaviour among pupils.
• One teacher noted, “Our pupils have become WASH ambassadors, they remind each other to wash hands and keep their environment clean.”
• The workshop ended with a joint action plan to strengthen coordination between teachers, head teachers, and Public Health Officers (PHO’s) for sustained impact.

14^th October 2025 - Teacher Health Champions’ End-Year Training 15^th October 2025 – Field Visits to Tranche 7 Schools and Shelton Trust Project Assessment:

WE REACH had pre-identified eligible schools based on need, availability of space for installation, and commitment to maintaining the infrastructure.

During the visit, the team assessed each school’s suitability, existing WASH infrastructure, and potential for sustainability after installation.

Mr. Steve engaged with head teachers, and school management to understand the context and readiness for the intervention.

One head teacher expressed, “This project will save our girls from walking long distances to fetch water, we are ready to maintain it once installed.”

The findings from the visit confirmed that two of the three proposed schools met the eligibility criteria, paving the way for implementation of the project.  

16^th October 2025 – 2025 Review and 2026 Planning

Internal review meeting with Steve and the WE REACH WASH team.

Analyzed feedback from head teachers and teacher champions workshops.

Conducted year-end review of program achievements and challenges.

Planned the 2026 WASH strategy and school engagement schedule.

Training Overview-Head Teachers and Board of Management Representatives

Workshop Summary:

The two evaluation workshops brought together Head Teachers, Teacher Health Champions, and Board of Management representatives from the ten partner primary schools. The sessions provided a platform for participants to share progress, lessons, and challenges experienced during 2025 implementation.

Overall, the year recorded remarkable improvements in school health indicators and WASH behavior change among learners. The End-Year Survey reported:

70.3% reduction in water-related illnesses

33.4% reduction in menstrual hygiene management (MHM) issues

67.7% reduction in skin and oral infections

These findings reflected the effectiveness of early implementation, improved monitoring, and strengthened collaboration between WE REACH, the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the Ministry of Health (MoH).

In attendance was Mr. Steve Ashton, a key advisor to WE REACH’s WASH initiatives, who used this opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the experiences of schools. Listening directly to the headteachers’ accounts allowed Mr. Ashton to better understand the progress and ongoing needs, reinforcing the importance of sustained support for these interventions.

Key Workshop Proceedings and School Highlights:Eshikufu Primary School

• Renovated a cemented water tank through support from Friends of Timothy (NGO).
• Successfully conducted fundraising to acquire additional tanks.
• Reported wear and tear on gutters and stock-outs of sanitary pads.
• ECDE classes still face challenges with floor conditions causing jigger infestations.
• “We’ve made progress with water access, but our younger learners still suffer from preventable conditions like jiggers. We must prioritize infrastructure.” Head Teacher, Eshikufu Primary. “Thanks to WE REACH our students are are healthier, happier and more aware of hygiene practices” Teacher champion Eshikufu”
• Borehole available but WASH points are inadequate.
• Tap breakages remain a concern, often caused by playful ECDE pupils.
• After WE REACH trained Young Peer Promoters (YPPs) on soap making, the initiative became popular, children were “too excited” and even stole soap due to its nice scent.
• Makini Group supported the school with reusable pads after WE REACH trained head teachers on resource mobilization.
• Floors were repaired to address jigger infestations, and Public Health Officers (PHO’s) supported jigger prevention through routine school visits.
• A BoM member who is a nurse sensitized students during School Health Parades.
• Concern raised: some parents take sanitary pads issued to girls and use them at home.
• “The training on resource mobilization truly worked, we got partners to support us. Now we just need to protect what we have built.” Head Teacher, Eluche Primary. “The program has made a tangible difference in behaviour and health outcomes” Teacher Champion Eluche Primary.
• Credited the WE REACH WASH Program for significant behavioral change and improved health among learners.
• Reported a clear reduction in water-related illnesses and increased hygiene awareness across the school.
• “The WASH program has changed how our learners think about hygiene.” Head Teacher, Ebwaliro Primary. Seeing fewer sick children every month shows this program works” BoM Representative Ebwaliro.
• Established a sick bay used by girls as a private changing room during menstruation.
• Health clubs meet weekly and use drama and peer education to promote hygiene practices.
• Maintains a ‘sick leave-out’ tracking system and uses hospital reports to update student health records.
• Health clubs organize weekly cleaning sessions, with rewards for the cleanest classes — resulting in fewer skin/oral infections.
• Students expressed low preference for rewashable pads.
• “Our health club has become a voice for good hygiene. Learners are proud to lead by example.” Teacher Champion, Shitoto Primary. “The students are learning not just about hygiene but responsibility. WE REACH made it practical and fun” Head Teacher Shitoto Primary.

Eluche Primary SchoolEbwaliro Primary SchoolShitoto Primary SchoolAdditional Requests and Suggestions:

Schools requested WE REACH-branded T-shirts and stickers to strengthen program identity.

Requested WE REACH to liaise with Friends of Timothy for possible lunch program support and enhanced service delivery.

Joint WE REACH–Steve Ashton Reflection Meeting (16th October 2025)

After the workshops, the WE REACH WASH team met with Mr. Ashton to review insights gathered. Key lessons and observations included:

LESSONS LEARNT:

• Safety of Girls: Collecting water from distant springs remains unsafe; alternative safe water sources or fencing around tanks should be prioritized.
• Community Engagement: Families, especially those where children live with grandparents, need greater awareness of WASH practices to reinforce behavior at home.
• Early Implementation: Starting program activities in January led to more consistent outcomes throughout the year.
• Collaboration: Continuous coordination with MoE, MoH, and PHOs strengthened program credibility and follow-up.
• Smart Farming: Schools can utilize small garden spaces to generate income and sustain hygiene supplies (soap, sanitary towels).
• Specific Reporting: Schools should document causes and symptoms of absenteeism to improve health data accuracy and interventions.
• Behavioral Change Beyond School: Sharing WASH success stories with parents helps extend hygiene practices into homes.
• Persistent wear and tear of infrastructure (gutters, taps).
• Limited MHM supplies and occasional misuse of sanitary pads.
• High dependence on government capitation, affecting sustainability of WASH maintenance.
• Ignorance and poverty at household level, limiting reinforcement of hygiene practices at home.
• Strengthen MHM Support: Secure sustainable partnerships for menstrual hygiene products and continuous sensitization for both learners and parents.
• Enhance Water Safety: Fence and secure water points to ensure safety and prevent contamination.
• Community Sensitization: Integrate parents and local leaders in WASH awareness campaigns to sustain change.
• Resource Mobilization: Encourage schools to pursue creative resource generation, including small-scale income projects.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Expand M&E tools to capture data on absenteeism causes, symptoms, and health outcomes.
• Brand Visibility: Provide WASH-branded materials (T-shirts, stickers) to strengthen school ownership and visibility of the program.

CHALLENGES:RECOMMENDATIONS: CONCLUSION:

The 2025 End-Year Evaluation and Strategic Planning sessions marked yet another milestone in WE REACH’s mission to strengthen school health systems in Kakamega County. The workshops showcased how far the program has come from to holistic health promotion and behavioral change.

With strengthened partnerships, improved data use, and greater community engagement, WE REACH is poised to make the 2026 WASH Program even more impactful and sustainable for the schools and communities it serves.