We are three university students investing our time and money this summer in Laki High School in Southwestern Uganda with the charity Education Partnerships Africa. The school desperately needs safe drinking water for the students, so we are fundraising for the purchase of a UV water purifier and 1000L water tank.
In comparison to other schools in the area, Laki is lucky to receive piped water, but it is a mixed blessing: the water is contaminated, and about 20 students contract typhoid each term. The only liquid the students are given all day is a cup of porridge in the morning. Students have to choose whether to drink no water at all, or to drink straight from the taps and risk contracting a range of waterborne diseases.
Unsurprisingly, the most common request the students make in their suggestion box is for safe drinking water. In addition to the health problems, students complain of thirst, fatigue and headaches which prevent them from concentrating during lessons.
The system we have chosen is supplied by Impact Water, a social business that sells water purification systems to schools across Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. Their price is reasonable and their preventive maintenance plan will ensure the project is sustainable.
We already have more than half of the money: we only need another £300 to make this happen. Please give as little or as much as you can!
Any additional money we raise will be split between a fund we are creating to help motivate female students in science, the purchase of lab equipment, and the purchase of core textbooks
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