Nanyanje School – Blossom Project

Struggles and Challenges

Before we, at Water Wells for Africa (WWFA).  met the people of Nanyanje Primary School, the sanitation conditions were severe. The school had a toilet ratio of 1:136 for girls with no changing rooms, forcing girls to skip classes to take care of themselves at home during menstruation.

We first met the people of Nanyanje School in 2022 when we installed a water well there. The clean, accessible water significantly improved their quality of life. However, we soon realized that additional support was needed. Through providing access to clean water, we discovered a ripple effect: girls were now able to attend school, but they weren’t staying in school due to the lack of hygienic facilities.

When our Malawi WWFA Team arrived on site, they talked to some of the students to learn about the situation.

Tereza Maganga (Teacher): Passionate about helping adolescent girls, Tereza Maganga serves as a matron at Nanyanje Primary School. She highlighted the deep-rooted cultural and sanitation issues surrounding menstruation among girls at their school where hygiene facilities were nonexistent, leading to many girls dropping out.

Sakina Madaika (Standard 8 Pupil): “Mostly girls line up to access toilets, waiting for their turn, which sometimes makes some visit the bush or go back home, missing classes in the process.”

Joyce Lucius (Pupil): “I opt to go home to help myself since at school there are no washrooms for privacy.”

​​It was observed that the few available toilets for girls lacked doors, compromising their privacy and safety. This causes them to feel uncomfortable, making it difficult for them to stay in school and perform well in class.

After the Blossom Project

Recognizing the urgent need for better hygiene and sanitation, WWFA, with funding from a generous donor, launched the Blossom Project at Nanyanje School on May 5, 2023. The project’s core objective was to improve Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and overall Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions.

Transformation and Impact

For the students, especially girls, the Blossom Project was a beacon of hope and transformation. The construction of modern hygiene rooms for girls and additional toilets for boys and staff addressed the sanitation crisis that threatened the school’s operation. The new facilities provided privacy, dignity, and a safe learning environment for all students.

Overcoming Challenges

The building project faced several challenges, including stoppages during national exams and high water tables at the construction site. Compliance with the law during exams and renting a water pump to remove excess water were necessary steps to ensure project completion. Despite these obstacles, the WWFA team completed the Blossom Project on September 14, 2023.

Immediate Improvements and Future Prospects

The Blossom Project’s impact was immediate and profound. By January 2024, school enrollment had increased significantly. The community expressed immense gratitude for the support that transformed their school and their children’s future.

Enrollment Statistics (2021-2023):

• 2021: 749 students (357 boys, 392 girls)
• 2022: 816 students (401 boys, 415 girls)
• 2023: 863 students (425 boys, 438 girls)

Celebration and Gratitude

The Blossom Project dedication event was attended by various stakeholders, including village chiefs, the district education advisor, teachers, community leaders, education stakeholders, and students. Activities included songs, dramas, poems, and speeches by grateful students.

Song by Female Students: The girls sang a song in Chichewa, translated to express their refusal to be sold into prostitution by their parents and their gratitude for the new changing room provided by WWFA, allowing them to continue their education with dignity.

Headmaster: Shadrach Chibondo Moses: A teacher at Nanyanje since 2016, Moses expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the transformation brought by the Blossom Project.

Kurt Dahlin’s Reflections

Kurt Dahlin communicated with Fexton Manja, our WWFA Malawian partner, to understand the cultural background. In the Yao culture, girls are often encouraged into prostitution after their menstruation begins. The song by the girls was a powerful statement against this practice and an expression of gratitude  for the new facilities provided by Water Wells for Africa.

You can be part of providing another life-changing Blossom Project by donating towards the facility. We’d love to build it with you!