Building Healthier Futures: The Ayin Project’s WASH in Schools Initiative in Uganda

School receives Purifaaya Water Filters to increase access to safe clean drinking water for students.

WASH in Schools Project in Uganda

Foundations for Optimal Health and Thriving Educational Environments

At The Ayin Project (TAP), we believe that every child deserves access to safe water, appropriate sanitation, and essential hygiene education. Recognizing these elements as foundations for optimal health and thriving educational environments, this October TAP launched a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in Schools Project across six rural schools in Uganda. Originally, we anticipated this project would reach approximately 1,000 students. However, initial assessments have revealed that these schools serve over 2,500 students combined, underscoring an even greater need than we had anticipated. 

Assessing Current WASH Conditions

Establishing Baselines

TAP team performing visual assessment of Ugandan school.

Establishing research baselines in communities with very little collected data, is a key starting point to understanding the scope of a community’s WASH-related needs. We have to understand the problem more deeply, to develop sustainable long-term solutions, WASH issues are often nuanced from village to village and school to school. With resources provided by the Ugandan Ministry of Education, TAP began establishing research baselines by conducting comprehensive assessments to understand each school’s WASH conditions in relation to national standards.

This evaluation process is revealing significant challenges—out of the six schools preliminarily evaluated, we've found that not one meets national standards for adequate water access, sanitation facilities, or hygiene practices. 

Clean Drinking Water

Lasting Local Solutions

In this initial set of assessments, one immediate priority identified was a lack of access to clean drinking water in schools. Just because schools have nearby water sources, doesn’t mean students have access to clean drinking water throughout their day. At one school visit, students were asked to raise their hand if they had “taken water that day”. Of the 240+ students, only 4 had done so. This number is far too low. To address this, TAP partnered with Spouts of Water, a local Ugandan manufacturer of the Purifaaya Ceramic Water Filter. These filters, which provide safe drinking water for up to five years, are a simple, sustainable solution that is duplicable for other village schools. TAP is installing two of these filters at each school assessed, ensuring students have increased access to clean drinking water throughout their day. This is a crucial first step towards improving the health and learning outcomes of these children.

Elijah providing WASH education for students.

Delivering WASH Education

Providing clean water is only part of the solution. Educating students and faculty on essential WASH practices is also vital for achieving lasting improvements. With this project, our local TAP team has begun delivering targeted hygiene education programs to students and staff in these schools, covering topics such as proper handwashing, maintaining clean facilities, and understanding the impact of hygiene on overall health.

These lessons empower students and faculty members with practical skills that extend beyond the school environment, fostering a culture of cleanliness within the broader community.

Student-Led WASH Clubs

Creating Champions of Change

To reinforce and sustain these new WASH practices, TAP is also establishing Student-Led WASH Clubs within each school. These clubs enable students to take ownership of their school’s water and sanitation practices and foster leadership skills in health promotion. By creating these student-driven groups, TAP aims to empower young people to become health advocates within their schools and communities, ensuring that these vital practices continue to benefit future generations.

Gratitude for Partnerships

A Special Thanks to the ERM Foundation

The Ayin Project extends heartfelt gratitude to the ERM Foundation for their generous $10,000 in financial support toward the execution of this project. In addition, they provided pro bono support valued at over $9,000, offering training that has helped our TAP Uganda team enhance their skills in data collection, analysis, and presentation using the ArcGIS platform. With ERM Foundation’s partnership, TAP has expanded its impact and strengthened its ability to track and visualize WASH intervention outcomes, making data-driven insights a central part of our work and long-term strategy.

Actively Working Together Towards the Vision

A Healthier, Brighter Future

Through this inaugural WASH in Schools Project, The Ayin Project is committed to transforming the learning environment for thousands of Ugandan students. With clean water, WASH education, and student-led initiatives, we’re building a foundation for healthier, more resilient communities. The early successes of this project highlights the potential for more meaningful change, not only in these six schools but across Uganda.

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission. Join us as we work to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more schools and communities in need - one step at a time. Together, we are creating brighter, healthier futures for the next generation.