Matheani Primary School: A Future Full of Promise

Under the scorching sun of Makueni County, Kenya, there is a primary school called Matheani Primary School. It serves as a beacon of hope for the surrounding community, offering vital educational support to over 200 children ages 5 to 14. With each passing year, the school’s population has been on the rise and is projected to continue growing rapidly in the coming years, primarily because there’s no better school within a 5 km radius.

Before Well Aware’s involvement, Matheani Primary faced a tough situation. Even though the school was near the plains leading to the River Galana, it still lacked reliable water. In the dry season, the ground cracked, dust blew through classrooms, and the children were always thirsty. The only option was to buy water from vendors. A single truck with 10,000 liters could cost up to Ksh 20,000, which was far too much for the school and community. When it didn’t rain, children waited, meals stopped, hand-washing became rare, and fewer students came to class. Teachers sometimes had to stop lessons to fetch water. Despite the school’s promise, the lack of water held everyone back.

We entered into a partnership with the community by installing a rainwater-harvesting system at Matheani in September of this year. We set up catchment roofs, gutters, storage tanks, filtration systems, and taps directly on the school grounds. The first rain filled those tanks, and the change was immediate. Children no longer had to leave the classroom to fetch water during lessons; hand-washing became a regular practice, and hygiene improved. Teachers reported fewer absences, and the community began to view the school not just as a place of learning, but as a platform for their children’s futures.

It has been two months since their new water system, and the Ripple Effects are already visible. Attendance has grown, and fewer children are skipping school because of water-related chores. Health has improved as hygiene habits have increased and illnesses have decreased. School pride has grown. When facilities work well, children engage. Teachers are enthusiastic that lessons now begin and end on time. Community confidence has increased as neighbors have begun to trust the school as a safe, stable place. The school’s reputation has improved. With the basics secured, the school can plan for more students, better resources, and expanded programs.

It is worth remembering how challenging the environment was. The soil baked hard, the seasons were unpredictable, and each dry spell risked leaving the school without enough water to function. The nearby River Galana offered little comfort because the water was too far, unreliable, or costly to treat. That the school endured in this landscape shows the resilience of its teachers, children, and community. Our rain-harvesting system transformed that resilience into sustainability.

If you know Well Aware’s mission, you understand that clean water is essential for education, health, and opportunity. At Matheani Primary, we have seen how a simple investment in a rainwater system can change a school’s future immediately. Your support does more than provide water. It helps classrooms run smoothly, enables children’s concentration, and gives hope a chance to grow.

There is still more to do. We will keep checking the system, train the school’s maintenance team, and support the community to make sure it lasts. We will also collect data on attendance, health, and community involvement so we can show real progress. Matheani Primary now stands not just under the hot sun of Makueni, but with a future that is brighter, more stable, and full of promise.

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