Orbis Provides Clean Water to Save Sight, Ethiopia

Founded only five years ago, Lima Tsala Secondary School already hosts 269 students, with a staff of ten teachers. Until very recently, all 279 people were forced to share one poorly constructed toilet. There were no facilities for pupils or staff to wash their hands, and long queues often resulted in open defecation in the school grounds. The school faced many challenges, but a lack of toilet facilities was one of the most pressing.

An impact survey in the area showed that this particular district is in fact free from the blinding disease, trachoma. However, trachoma spreads easily and quickly in areas where sanitation is poor, and the school could have been the perfect breeding ground. Keen to ensure that this didn’t happen, Orbis took the opportunity to transfer a portion of its budget to build two brand new, sanitary toilets - greatly reducing the risk of possible infection for both students and staff.

The director of the school, Mr Sisay, said:

“It has always been our wish to provide our teachers and students a well standardized and ventilated latrine in the school. Previously both female and male teachers and students had been using one old latrine together which has no privacy and running water for hand washing. But this year, our dream came true when Orbis came to our school and intervened. Now two standard latrines are constructed (one for male students and one for female). Now our school provides a healthy environment for the whole school community. We are so grateful to Orbis”. 

Children across the world are so similar. They all enjoy laughing and playing with friends. Unfortunately alongside this is potential insecurity as they grow from children into adolesence. Every school child deserves the right to know they can go to the bathroom in private, without the fear of a school mate or teacher interrupting.

Your support has enabled Orbis to ensure 269 children have the privacy they deserve. Thank you!