Waikato Construction has literally brought relief to the children and teachers of Mukupi School. By funding the building of latrines they have improved children's health and school attendance.
Before ChildFund arrived in 2007, Mukupi School in a rural district of Zambia was a ruin. Villagers called it a 'deserted and haunted place'.
With very few resources and facilities, and the buildings in a state of disrepair, the quality of education was poor. The school also had no access to running water and only had one latrine used by nearly 500 students and their teachers creating a high risk of disease.
The lack of toilet facilities meant parents were reluctant to send their daughters to school as there was little privacy and it was simply too dangerous and degrading. Combined with a lack of proper teacher accommodations, female teachers were also not prepared to live and work there.
When Helena La Brenz and Warren Hargreaves of Waikato Construction heard of Mukupi's plight, they knew that they could make a difference.
"We saw a very tangible way we could help by funding the construction of the latrines. We knew that the simple but smart engineering and construction of these latrines would see them last a long time," says Helena.
With Waikato Construction's support the community built a block of 10 Ventilated Improved Pit latrines. These toilets improve sanitation by eliminating flies and smells through air circulation. Built to last, the exterior and floors of the toilets are made of concrete, which also allows for easier cleaning.
Local community members dug the foundations for the latrines and then skilled labourers constructed the toilets using purchased materials. The toilets are now fully functional and in use by students and teachers. Their existence has helped reduce incidents of diarrhoea and other diseases in the area.
Since the repair and the rehabilitation of Mukupi School, which included rebuilding classrooms and teacher accommodations, building a library and a mobile science lab, it has gone from strength to strength and is now the pride of the community. The school has a full complement of teachers, has increased its school roll and has reduced drop out rates dramatically.
Thank you Waikato Construction!
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