Photo Essay

UNICEF provides safe water to help children stay in school

For every child, clean and safe water

UNICEF Uganda

A girl holds a jerry can under a spout with another girl pumps water into it

UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

12 December 2017

clean and safe water in schools — UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

“When there was no water, we went to the river. Water is heavy, and the river is far. I had to rest two times on the way back. When I got to school, I felt tired. I feared the people I meet on the way Irene K”, 12 years old, P-5.

UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

Pupils used to collect water from an unclean water source. They often experienced repeated episodes of diarrhea, consequently impairing their physical growth, nutrition, and compromising their educational attainment.

UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

There is plenty of clean water on the school premises which allows for handwashing practices which has positively affected behavior change among the pupils.

UNICEF Uganda/2017/Jimmy Adriko

With the constant water supply, adolescent girls are also able to manage their menstrual cycles effectively without having to remain at home, which has improved their self-esteem, classroom performance, and contributed to the decrease in early drop-out.