Art for Gorillas

Category: Art of Conservation (AoC) | Date: Jun 08 2009 | By: Julie

You may recall our request of support for the purchase of 2 rainwater tanks to be used to harvest much needed water at the two schools where we work. (Rainwater Tank Appeal-Kids Staying Healthy)

Fortunately our project was able to endow the purchase, installation, materials, cleaning supplies, and training for a tank per school. I must admit it’s been a much more elaborate activity than I first imagined!

The school directors acted swiftly with the arrangements of transporting the water tanks from Kigali to Kinigi. Once the big black plastic containers were offloaded and resting in the schoolyards, construction of a foundation and the installation process was speedy.

Now, over the next few weeks, we are conducting trainings on the maintenance and usage of the water tanks with the schools’ teachers. They will then take it upon themselves to create a schedule of when the schools’ classrooms and toilets will be cleaned using water from the water tanks and cleaning supplies donated by AoC. Additionally, the new hand-washing stations placed next to each classroom must be maintained with enough water and soap.

Innocent offloading the supplies needed for maintaining the water tanks and cleaning classrooms and toilets. Rushubi Primary School, Kinigi.

Our lesson for the day is finished, children return their drawing boards, and soon the school’s teachers with arrive for our first day of training. Jerry cans, plastic buckets, soap, towels, and more will be distributed to each classroom and block of toilets.

Getting down to business, Valerie translates during the training. Photo by Molly Feltner.

Teachers receive our manual which contain instructions on maintaining the rainwater tanks, the usage of the water, and a list of supplies needed to perform these activities.

We are providing much needed supplies to ensure that these schools are kept clean and sanitary. Sanitary schools means healthier students and a lesser risk of human-animal disease transmission. Brooms and mops for classrooms and toilets. Photo by Molly Feltner.

Tags: gorillas, staying healthy