In rural Malawi, 37% of households spend at least 30 minutes a day fetching drinking water. A majority of Malawians rely on unsafe drinking water drawn from sources such as streams, rivers, and unprotected springs.  Poor sanitation and hygiene are major contributors to the burden of disease and child survival. In addition, improper hygiene facilities make it very challenging for girls to attend school regularly when they start menstruating.

One Day’s Wages partnered with SPRODETA – a grassroots organization that serves rural communities – to construct latrines and water stations at three primary schools in rural Chitipa District. At each school, SPRODETA repaired or constructed a borehole for clean water, installed handwashing stations, and constructed private latrines with changing rooms for girls and boys.  SPRODETA also spread awareness about children’s rights to clean water and proper sanitation. To ensure long-term sustainability, a Water & Sanitation Committee was formed at each school to oversee operations and maintenance. With the addition of latrines and changing rooms at their schools, attendance rates among girls increased by 33%, 73% and 40% at Uphighu, Chizumu, and Kalira Primary Schools, respectively!