In the K – 12 school in our rural town, kids were getting intestinal diseases and worms. The Head master came to our office imploring the help of two Rotarians who were visiting a completed grant project.
The existing water system at St Paul’s school of 1750 students repeatedly burned out pumps lifting water to its tank. The school’s budget had been spent on 3 pumps in vain. The Rotarians analyzed the system and brought in 3 technician for a remedy. The best new design would remove the tank to lower ground in the middle of the campus, making much better use of gravity flow through a filter system to a five-faucet delivery console.
The project would benefit a large population, improve learning, and provide sustainable infrastructure. Perfect for a Rotary grant. Six months later a nine ft stone tower supported a 10,000 liter tank that reliably delivered filtered water to students and staff.
Three months after that, St Paul’s reports 144 fewer absences due to stomach problems and an 80% reduction in diagnoses of worms.
“This has been a blessing on our daily life,” says the Headmaster. “It means much less suffering and loss of learning.”
Cost: $3,175 USD