Raising the Banner: Transforming Schools Through WASH

“It has really raised our banner!” These were the heartfelt words of Tulyasingula Adera, a teacher and administrator at Precious Primary School in Uganda. Her statement underscored the wonderful impact that The Ayin Project’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programming has had on the school, expanding its reputation among parents and the community.

Pictured Left to Right: Kiwanda Samuel, Tulyasingula Adera, Katwesigye Precious, Namutebi Lydia, Sulman Muhanguzi, and Nsubuga Elijah

In February, I, Josh, had the privilege of visiting Precious Primary School as part of a follow-up to TAP's WASH in Schools initiative. Precious Primary School was one of six schools that participated in our program, which we launched in October 2024 to better understand and address the challenges that rural Ugandan schools face regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

Location of TAP's Water Research and Development Center in Kampala, Uganda

Joshua Kurtz and Katwesigye Precious engaging in a friendly greeting

Precious Primary School's road sign directing visitors and students to the school.

During my visit to Precious, I was deeply moved by the gratitude expressed by Tulyasingula Adera and Katwesigye Precious, the school’s owners. They spoke repeatedly about how the TAP team’s efforts have made a tangible difference. They were especially thankful for the engaging and interactive WASH education we provided to their students. They also expressed their appreciation for the Purifaaya water filters, which have significantly improved their access to clean drinking water. Tulyasingula and Katwesigye also highly valued the water quality testing and guidance on Uganda's National WASH Standards, which has already helped their school make new improvements and take appropriate steps towards achieving those standards.

One powerful testimony shared was from a parent who visited the school recently. When the parent saw the Purifaaya water filters, they remarked, “This school is a serious school.” Many other parents who came to assess the school for their children were similarly impressed, recognizing the school’s commitment to providing safe drinking water for their children. As a result, enrollment has increased, reflecting a growing trust in the school’s dedication to student well-being.

When our TAP team conducted its initial WASH survey, we discovered that each student at Precious Primary School had access to only 0.16 liters of drinking water per day. However, through the addition of the Purifaaya water filters, TAP has helped raise that to 0.65 liters per student. While the Ugandan national standard is 1.5 liters per student, this progress marks a significant step forward in ensuring greater access to clean water. In just a few short months, efforts have been made to improve drinking water availability at Precious Primary School, bringing it closer to meeting the national standards.

Seeing the progress firsthand was incredibly encouraging. Since our initial engagement in October 2024, Precious Primary School has built additional bathing areas for boarding students and added a new pit latrine toilet facility. These improvements demonstrate a commitment to creating a healthier and more dignified learning environment for students.

Elijah engaging with students during a WASH educational activity during the team's initial visit to the school.

Lydia reviewing the WASH in Schools Scorecard with Precious

When we shared the results of our initial survey and water testing with Katwesigye Precious and

Tulyasingula Adera, they listened attentively, eager to begin implementing the recommended changes to meet Uganda’s national WASH standards. Their openness to learning and dedication to improvement reaffirmed why this work is so important.

I am incredibly proud of our team in Uganda and the impact they are making. Because of their dedication, more than 2,000 students across six schools have benefited from our WASH initiatives.

However, our work is far from over. There is still so much to be done to support these schools on their journey to providing safe and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions. Our goal is for every school we assess to “raise their banner” and take pride in the progress they have made.

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I invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can “Raise the Banner” and #BeTheChange that these schools, students, educators, and communities so deeply need. Your support can make a lasting impact—ensuring that every child has access to clean water and a healthier future.