there for children.

Safe and Accessible Toilets in Burundian Schools

Many thanks for your support, which meant we were able to complete the project successfully.

project summaryChildren in Burundian schools need new and better toilets to be able to attend school and to be protected from diseases and sexual violence. Help to build the sanitary facilities and improve their educational prospects through a donation.

Background

Gisuru commune is a very rural commune in Ruyigi province on the Burundian border with Tanzania. School enrolment rates are lower in Ruyigi than nationally, reflecting the lower availability of schools and the lower levels of resources to meet education costs. Gender-related barriers to access and poor systems to support quality education have disproportionately affected girls. Among other issues, the lack of gender-sensitive and accessible latrines and the fear of school due to sexual and gender-based violence heavily limits girls’ participation in school.
Most school toilets in Gisuru pose protection concerns for children due to the lack of locks, lights, privacy, and safety standards. Children and teachers particularly complain about the bad smell, lack of cleanliness, and lack of soap and hand-washing facilities. While all children need a sanitary and hygienic learning environment, the lack of adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools has a greater negative impact on girls than on boys. Schools do not provide appropriate menstrual hygiene arrangements and toilets are often not separated by gender. The lack of gender-sensitive latrines result in the absence of girls at school during their menstrual cycle and exposes them to sexual and gender-based violence in school. Evidence shows that quality Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools leads to increased cognitive function and attention, reduces school absence related to communicable diseases and inadequate menstrual hygiene, and increases dignity and safety of girls.

Idea

Adequate WASH in schools is critical to ensure that schools are healthy places where all children can attend with dignity. In 2020, Right To Play launched a new education program called “My Education, My Future” in 30 schools in Gisuru Commune. So far, the program has worked to build the capacity of teachers on the use of play to improve learning outcomes, and raise community awareness on child protection and on gender equality to contribute to a safer social environment for children. Although these activities are all essential to a conducive learning environment, inadequate toilet facilities continue preventing children, especially girls, from going to school.
Together we can change this! With your support, we intend to build new latrines and make existing ones safe, sanitary, gender-sensitive, disability-friendly, and accessible for boys and girls in Gisuru.

Implementation

The targeted funds will allow Right To Play to build a block of 7 drainable latrines in one school: 3 for girls, 3 for boys, 1 for children living with disabilities. A 5,000-liter tank for rainwater harvesting will be provided to ensure proper sanitation and sustainable use.
In order to ensure privacy, there will be a wall separating girls’ and boys’ latrines, with separate entries. The boys’ side will have urinals to maximize the number of users at the same time. Three changing rooms for girls will further be constructed and integrated into the girls’ blocks of latrines to provide a safe place to change especially during menstruation periods.
We are very thankful for your support to make this happen!

Initiators

Right To Play is a global organization that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity. We work with children in some of the most difficult places on earth, supporting them to stay in school, to resist exploitation, to prevent disease and to heal from war and abuse.
Right To Play has been working in Burundi since 2008, supporting around 95,000 children and youth. As pioneers in a unique approach to learning, both inside and outside of the classroom, we harness play, one of the most fundamental forces in a child’s life, to help children dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities.

330 Kinder in Burundi haben jetzt sichere Toiletten - dank Ihrer Hilfe!

08/11/2023

Thanks to your generous support, the construction of the safer toilets at Musenyi school in Burundi has been completed. The toilets will benefit a total of 330 children years, while the water tank will benefit 431 children.

Overview:

The project involved the construction of seven drainable latrines from burnt bricks, cement mortar, and metallic door and roofing frames at Musenyi school in the Gisuru commune, comprising three for girls (including changing rooms), three for boys (including urinals), and one specifically designed for children with disabilities. Additionally, a 5,000-liter tank for rainwater harvesting was built at Nyakivumu School to facilitate hygiene management as Musenyi school had already received a water tank through Food for the Hungry. The latrines and changing rooms will ultimately benefit a total of 330 (157 F) children aged 6 to 17, while the water tank will ultimately benefit 431 (218 F) children aged 6 to 17.

Construction Process

After careful evaluation and analysis of the technical proposals submitted by all interested companies in January 2023, Right To Play selected two companies in February for the construction of latrines at Musenyi school and the installation of a rainwater harvesting system at Nyakivumu School. To ensure compliance with building standards and the use of approved construction materials, close collaboration was maintained with the Ministry of Education, the Local District Government Engineer, school staff, School Management Committee, and a consultant. A robust quality control system was put in place. This system encompassed regular inspections, evaluations, and checks throughout the construction process, ensuring that the project strictly employed building materials that originated from approved sources, complying with the prescribed building standards for construction materials.

The construction of latrines was finalized in May 2023 and a handover event took place in the presence of various important stakeholders, such as the administrative and educational authorities of the province. During the event, a handover certificate was signed by the Socio-economic Adviser of the Governor of Ruyigi, the Head of Education at the provincial and district level, the District Engineer, the Headteacher of Musenyi School, members of the School Management Committee, and parent representatives, symbolizing the completion of the project. In coordination and collaboration with the headteachers and parents, the school management committees were encouraged to establish measures and strategies to ensure the ongoing maintenance and sustainability of the newly constructed structures. This emphasis on proactive planning aims to secure the longevity and optimal utilization of the infrastructure. However, during the construction of the rainwater harvesting system at Nyakivumu school, a delay was reported. Nevertheless, the contracted company has agreed to complete the installation of the water collection system by the end of July 2023, indicating their commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the contract.

Feedback

The construction of the latrines has brought comfort and relief to teachers, parents, and children alike. They mentioned that the latrines would contribute to creating a secure learning environment as children no longer had to resort to the surrounding bushes. For example, Pierre, the Head of the School Management Committee, whose two boys, ages 9 and 11, attend Musenyi School, expressed gratitude towards Right To Play for constructing latrines for his children. He highlighted that the lack of proper sanitation facilities had been a significant issue, negatively impacting school attendance, particularly for girls.

We thank all donors for their contribution and for making this project possible!

We have done it! Thanks to your help, the construction of the sanitary facilities can begin!

09/15/2022

Making a school in Gisuru, Burundi, a safe and healthy place to learn was the overall goal of our project. Thanks to your great support, we can now make our project a reality.

On behalf of Right To Play, we would like to thank you for your commitment and generous donations. Thanks to your help, the construction of a sanitary block with 7 drainable latrines and changing rooms at a school in Gisuru, Burundi, is guaranteed.

A safe environment and an intact infrastructure, including sanitary facilities, are the absolute basic requirements to enable children to attend school. And although all children need sanitary facilities, the consequences of a lack of hygiene measures at schools are much more serious for girls than for boys. For fear of sexual assault and gender-based violence, girls often stay away from school, especially during their menstrual cycle. But we can and will get active! Your solidarity enables us to equip a school in Gisuru with a functioning sanitary facility and make it a safe and healthy place to learn that all children can attend in dignity.

We say thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Your team from Right To Play Switzerland

P.S. Follow Right To Play Switzerland on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and stay up to date on news from our programs, stories and events or visit our website to find out more about your impact. And if you have any other questions about our work, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail: +41 44 552 04 88 - info@righttoplay.ch

Meili Unternehmungen AG	5'000,00 CHF
Christian Ritschard	100,00 CHF
Monia Gilomen	100,00 CHF
Beat Bieler	100,00 CHF
Anonymous	100,00 CHF
Vermittelt durch Swisscom	175,00 CHF
Stiftung there-for-you	2'000,00 CHF
Goldbach	5'000,00 CHF
Martin Laubacher	50,00 CHF
Bertrand Weill	400,00 CHF
Anonymous	10,00 CHF
Aufgrund der Sammelinitiative von Nora Angehrn	200,00 CHF
Anonymous	330,00 CHF
Josephine Zoller	150,00 CHF
Claude Monnier	300,00 CHF
Anonymous	10,00 CHF
Guyer Wärme und Wasser AG	3'840,00 CHF
Charles Kawashima	35,00 CHF

Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.

Status of the project

17'900,00 CHF

We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.

Major donor

Meili Unternehmungen AG

5'000 CHF

Stiftung there-for-you

2'000 CHF

Goldbach

5'000 CHF

Guyer Wärme und Wasser AG

3'840 CHF

Impact analysis by there for you specialists

Education is essential for the future of children. The condition of the few latrines that are available prevents children, especially girls, from attending school. The construction and reparation of latrines will increase the access to education in Burundi and reduce the transmission of diseases. In addition, the project ensures greater gender equity because girls are particularly affected by the current situation. Thus, the project strengthens the well-being of children in various areas: reduction of poverty through better education, protection against diseases and sexual violence and more gender equality.