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New toilets and improved sanitation

· Clean water,Safe water,Sanitation,Hygiene

As part of our ongoing School Sanitation Project, Kaloko has built latrines for boys and girls at both Kandulwe and Fibawe schools this year. The girls’ latrines have a separate section hidden by a chicane to provide privacy for washing and menstrual health management, and outside each latrine, we have fitted locally-made wrought iron handwashing stands. The toilets are now in full use, giving more students and staff access to hygienic and private toilet facilities.

Alongside this we are working to improve access to menstrual care for girls. Pupils at Fibawe and Kandulwe Schools were given supplies of menstrual products along with advice on how to use and dispose of the pads. Following a successful trial by 100 girls at three schools, tailors at the local sewing co-operative are making reusable sanitary pads which will be ready to distribute in the current school term. These safe, washable and durable pads have clear ecological and cost benefits over disposable alternatives.

Kaloko Zambia staff report that it is common for girls to miss a week of school each month due to menstruation; this finding is supported by formal studies elsewhere in Africa where sanitation facilities are poor. Education for girls is vitally important for many reasons: educated girls are more likely to delay marriage and have fewer children, and their children are likely to be healthier. We are determined to do as much as possible to make school attendance easier.

Kaloko is pleased to announce that we have received funding for a new project extending our work in
menstrual health management, and building on the expertise and learning so far within the School Sanitation Project. This project is in the design phase with Kaloko Zambia, and will be implemented in the next school year which starts in January. Girls in grades six to nine across four schools will be given a pack of six reusable menstrual pads produced by the co-operative, providing an income for tailors while reducing environmental waste from disposable pads.

As part of our ongoing School Sanitation Project, Kaloko has built latrines for boys and girls at both Kandulwe and Fibawe schools this year. The girls’ latrines have a separate section hidden by a chicane to provide privacy for washing and menstrual health management, and outside each latrine, we have fitted locally-made wrought iron handwashing stands. The toilets are now in full use, giving more students and staff access to hygienic and private toilet facilities.

Alongside this we are working to improve access to menstrual care for girls. Pupils at Fibawe and Kandulwe Schools were given supplies of menstrual products along with advice on how to use and dispose of the pads. Following a successful trial by 100 girls at three schools, tailors at the local sewing co-operative are making reusable sanitary pads which will be ready to distribute in the current school term. These safe, washable and durable pads have clear ecological and cost benefits over disposable alternatives.

Kaloko Zambia staff report that it is common for girls to miss a week of school each month due to menstruation; this finding is supported by formal studies elsewhere in Africa where sanitation facilities are poor. Education for girls is vitally important for many reasons: educated girls are more likely to delay marriage and have fewer children, and their children are likely to be healthier. We are determined to do as much as possible to make school attendance easier.

Kaloko is pleased to announce that we have received funding for a new project extending our work in
menstrual health management, and building on the expertise and learning so far within the School Sanitation Project. This project is in the design phase with Kaloko Zambia, and will be implemented in the next school year which starts in January. Girls in grades six to nine across four schools will be given a pack of six reusable menstrual pads produced by the co-operative, providing an income for tailors and at the same time reducing environmental waste from disposable pads.