This clean and safe water project is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation project at Ikot Etenge Primary School located in Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State in Southern Nigeria. Commissioned on January 19, 2017, this water system now serves over 200 children who attend this primary school and their families.
Exactly two school days after the water project was commissioned, the school principal called to inform us that 10 new students had just registered at the school and within a week we were informed that many more new students and old students who had stopped attending classes, were registering at the school. This is exactly the kind of impact we hoped this water project and the overall school refurbishment would have. By improving their learning environment, one of our many goals is to give the children a good primary education foundation to prepare them for future opportunities and inspire them to take their education seriously so that they can ultimately contribute to the growth and prosperity of their communities.
Message from weCare Africa on the Water Project Commissioning:
We are delighted to present this clean and safe drinking water system to the children of Ikot Etenge Primary School. This project was initiated with every child from this village and its environs in mind.
No longer will you have to spend hours fetching water from the stream and no longer will you have to drink unsafe water.
Because we understand the power of education, our hope is that you will spend more time focusing on your studies instead. We encourage you the students, both boys and girls, to stay in school and work very hard so that your future may be bright.
Project Background:
Last year, we identified Ikot Etenge Primary School as a school lacking basic educational resources and selected your school for rehabilitation assistance from weCare Africa. While this clean and safe water project is the first of our initiatives to assist the school, we hope to complete other projects at the school in the future.
Project Goals:
The goal of this project was to provide clean and safe drinking water for the students thereby reducing the spread of waterborne diseases such as dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever. In addition, in executing this project, we employed the young men from the village for ancillary labor in order to also empower them.
Maintenance and Security:
We call on the students, parents and other citizens of this village to maintain this water system and treat it like your own personal property. Understand that this water system is for your own good and a beacon of hope for your village.
Please do not vandalize any part of the water system. We encourage every member of this community to do their best to maintain the system.
Sponsorship:
This project is strictly sponsored by individual donors based in the United States who donated out of the goodness of their heart. weCare Africa owes all gratitude to these donors. Special thanks to weCare Africa volunteer staff, Aniekeme Umoh and Zara Banite for helping raise money to fund this project.
Materials Donated by weCare Africa as part of this project:
1. A School Sign Board
2. Generator – Fireman 3.0* KVA
3. Four (4) Water Outlets
4. Two (2) 1,500 Litres Tank
5. Steel Tank Stand
6. 100+ Water Bottles to all student present
Note: The school principal and school chairman will be responsible for managing the water system components, including the generator.
You can read more about our comprehensive project and the next Phase which involves construction of a sanitary and hygienic toilet facility for the children here.
