By Kekeli K. Blamey
Mafi Aflaevenu (V/R), Aug. 18, GNA – The Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana, in collaboration with Water Engineers for the Americas and Africa (WEFTA), a United States-based non-governmental organisation, has completed and handed over a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project to the Mafi Afleavenu D.A. Primary School in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Funded by WEFTA and implemented by the Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana, with support from members of the Mafi Afleavenu community, the project comprises rainwater harvesting with poly tanks and toilet facilities to improve access to safe drinking water and decent sanitation for pupils and staff.
The intervention was implemented under the theme, “Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation for Quality Education in Ghana.”
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mr Emmanuel Kwadzo Amezah, Executive Director of the Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana, said the intervention was designed to address critical water and sanitation challenges confronting the school and create a healthier and more conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He said the school was selected because it served a deprived community where pupils faced significant difficulties accessing safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation facilities.
Mr Amezah said the absence of reliable water and adequate toilet facilities could negatively affect pupils’ health, dignity, attendance and ability to participate effectively in academic activities.
He explained that since its establishment in 2023, the Foundation had focused on promoting girl-child education, supporting vulnerable women, providing teaching and learning materials to underserved communities and schools, and advocating against child marriage.
He said the Foundation had subsequently expanded its interventions to include WASH projects in deprived communities, recognising the strong connection between access to basic water and sanitation facilities, public health and quality education.
Mr Amezah said after identifying the needs of the school, the Foundation approached its development partner in the United States, resulting in support for the implementation of the project.
He expressed appreciation to WEFTA for funding the intervention and to the Mafi Afleavenu community for its contribution to the successful completion of the project.
He said the completed facilities had been formally handed over to the Headteacher, School Management Committee (SMC) and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for their use and management.
Mr Amezah said the students, teachers and school authorities had pledged to take proper care of the facilities and ensure their maintenance to serve the school and community for many years.
He said the Foundation would undertake regular monitoring visits to assess the condition, functionality and utilisation of the facilities, adding that the exercise would also enable it to provide WEFTA with periodic feedback on the intervention’s impact and emerging challenges requiring attention.
Mr Tim Wellman, Executive Director of WEFTA, said the organisation was pleased to partner with the Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana to support the provision of essential water and sanitation facilities for the school.
He said access to safe drinking water and decent sanitation was fundamental to the health, dignity and educational development of children.
Mr Wellman emphasised that the long-term success of the intervention would depend largely on the commitment of the school authorities and community to properly maintain the facilities and ensure their continued functionality.
He expressed the hope that the project would contribute to improving the learning environment and promote healthier practices among pupils and staff.
The traditional leaders and members of the Mafi Afleavenu community expressed appreciation to the Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana and WEFTA for the intervention, describing it as a significant contribution towards addressing the school’s longstanding water and sanitation challenges.
They said the provision of the facilities would ease the difficulties pupils and staff had encountered in accessing water and appropriate sanitation at the school.
The community pledged to work closely with the school authorities to protect and maintain the facilities, ensuring that they remained functional and accessible to pupils and staff for the benefit of present and future generations.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu