Students: 1,948 + surrounding village
Boys: 995
Girls: 953

For the nearly 2,000 students at Nang’ombe Primary School, finding water used to mean leaving campus and walking about 200 meters to a nearby secondary school. That source was already shared by secondary students and surrounding villages, leaving Nang’ombe without a dependable supply of its own. Teachers also struggled to find enough water to clean toilets and provide students with a place to wash their hands.

The shortage was especially difficult for girls managing their periods. Without water at school, many chose to stay home rather than make the trip to the secondary school, missing approximately five days of classes each month. School leaders say girls’ absenteeism has been a longstanding concern.

Now, with a well on campus, students have water where they need it most. Girls have better access to water during menstruation, while all students can practise handwashing and the school can maintain cleaner toilets. School leaders hope these changes will help reduce absences, strengthen academic performance and allow more students to graduate.

Reliable water at school has been a long time coming. Pipes and rods intended for Nang’ombe in 2008 were lost, leaving the school without a permanent source for years. The new well marks a significant change for the school community.

“Water is extremely important to child education,” says Peter Susuwele. With water now available on campus, students have fewer barriers standing between them and their education. For Nang’ombe’s 953 girls and 995 boys, something as fundamental as having water at school can make it easier to stay in class, learn and prepare for what comes next.