Return of Joy: Having access to WASH facilities inside school !

Tulasha Devi Primary School located at Kotdanda of Godawari Municipality was established in 2049 B.S. There are 30 students studying from class one to three.  The school was affected by the Earthquake of 2015. As the school was completely destructed by the Earthquake, school began its classes in Temporary Learning Center (TLC) nearby the school. The learning center was CGI roofed with surrounding cover of tarpaulin sheets only in three faces.

Tulasha Devi Primary School located at Kotdanda of Godawari Municipality was established in 2049 B.S. There are 30 students studying from class one to three.  The school was affected by the Earthquake of 2015. As the school was completely destructed by the Earthquake, school began its classes in Temporary Learning Center (TLC) nearby the school. The learning center was CGI roofed with surrounding cover of tarpaulin sheets only in three faces.

Student running to temporary latrine during break

Student running to temporary latrine during break

Students had to tolerate scorching heat under the CGI during summer and chilling cold during winter. Teachers did not have option rather to adjust in the condition. Though they had latrine facility in the TLC it was located in steep and slippery terrain of the field surrounded by the bushes.

“The students are very young and they can’t decide what is good and bad for them, they get excited and start running towards toilet when we announce break. Few have already fallen and got hurt. As toilet is in isolated place sometime students gets scared of reaching the toilet and urinate and defecated on the way to toilet which is making the environment around the school filthy.Although the new school building is ready but there is no availability of toilet and we do not have budget for the construction of the toilet.” Mr. Krishna Adhikari, former President of the school committee

 CIUD with funding partner Oxfam supported Tulasha Devi Primary School for the construction of child and gender friendly toilet and hand washing station with 1000 ltrs water tank. During the process of construction of toilet, school were asked to shift students to the new building as the owner of the land where Temporary learning shelter was built  wanted land back for their own purpose. School shifted to the new building but as the toilet was not completed, students and teachers were compelled to use toilet of the neighbors nearby.

New school building of Tulasha Primary School

New school building of Tulasha Primary School

Now, the construction of the toilet has been finished, students do have easy access to earthquake resistant toilet with handwashing station. With the school, the newly built building also have health post attached to it. So, along with the students and teachers, health post staffs and patients visiting the health post will also be benefited by the latrine facility.

 “Our students are using proper latrine now. Before, we had to use neighbor’s latrine which was little far for the children. Hand washing station has helped us to maintain our hygienic behavior as well.” Mr. Surya Prasad Pokharel, Principal.

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