Results and Impact
Photo by Melissa Stevens/CRS
Our Work Overseas
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Ensuring Safe Drinking Water in Classrooms
Explore the remarkable outcomes of a decade's worth of experience as we've partnered with stakeholders in Burkina Faso and Ghana to enhance our innovative WASH in Schools program, generously supported by The Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Burkina Faso, Kom Yilma Project
In Burkina, Kom Yilma project transformed 351 schools across 20+ districts in the Center-North region 2014-2023.
During phase 1 (March 2014 - August 2017):
Schools Achieving WASH-Friendly Status: 72% (of 118 targeted) schools earned this distinction.
Handwashing Success: Pre-meal handwashing surged from 12.8% to 78%, while post-latrine handwashing jumped from 19.5% to 72.8%.
Community Empowerment: School communities improved WASH management, implementing regular maintenance and savings accounts for upkeep.
Water Points Well-Maintained: Adequately managed water points leaped from 41.4% to 77.8%.
Latrine Upgrade: Safely managed latrines increased from 10% to 60%.
Home Habits: 93% of students reported full family use of latrines at home, up from 46.55% at baseline.
Phase 2 (Mar 2017 - Dec 2020) saw remarkable achievements:
100% WASH-Friendly Schools All 96 assessed schools earned WASH-friendly certification.
Better Facilities We constructed 96 latrine blocks, benefiting 17,386 students and 383 teachers.
Clean Water Access We added 53 new boreholes and refurbished 6, providing clean water to 11,841 students, 246 teachers, and 7,268 community members.
Knowledge Empowerment
- Girls excelled in menstrual hygiene, rising from 38.90% to 93.7%.
- Households with handwashing facilities spiked from 5.94% to 47.9%.
- Students washing hands before eating soared from 34.1% to 62.9%.
Well-managed latrines surged from 10% to 60.3%.
Water points under expert care Teachers who moved away brought our approach to their new schools, spreading our success.
For lasting impact, we initiated key systemic changes like consistent planning, budgeting for WASH, support from education authorities, and national Menstrual Hygiene Management guide collaboration.
Classmates wash dishes before class in Tongo-Beo community in Ghana. Photo by Melissa Stevens/CRS.
Ghana ICOWASH Project
In Ghana, the ICOWASH project embraced a 'Total WASH' strategy, transforming lives across 195 communities, 347 schools, and 48 health facilities:
Community-Powered Progress: Sanitation advocacy groups mobilized their communities to construct.
- 2,743 household latrines.
- 3,607 handwashing stations.
- 4,785 functional soakaway pits.
- Improved latrine usage rose from 45% to 52%.
National Integration:
- 10 project indicators seamlessly integrated into national systems.
Empowering Girls:
- Girls' access to sanitary pads surged from 60% to an impressive 96%.
Innovative Outreach:
- Mobile Sales Vans (MSVs) and sanitation fairs transformed 60 communities, supporting latrine improvements.
WASH-Friendly Champions:
- 80% of schools and 90% of healthcare facilities earned WASH-friendly status, showcasing their ability to sustain WASH improvements through action plans, regular self-monitoring, and community engagement.
