During the last 9 years Drop in the Bucket has built wells and/or sanitation systems at more than 300 schools in sub-Saharan Africa. But no place has had an impact on us quite like the St. Francis Madera School for the Blind. When we began working at the school we had no idea that this would become our biggest project to date. We also had no idea just how big an impression these kids would leave on us.
Life can be incredibly challenging for a blind child in a country like Uganda. The dirt road to school is paved only with pitfalls—tree stumps, potholes and people with the worst intentions obstruct your path. The only route to a better life is education, but what happens when none of the local schools are equipped to educate sight-impaired children? This is why the Madera School for the Blind is such a special place.
We started working at the school a little more than a year ago. The goal was simple—everybody deserves the dignity of having a decent toilet and these kids are no different.
Students from the St Francis Madera School For the Blind playing music.
The progress so far
So far, your generous donations have helped us build two sets of toilets. Outside each set of dorm rooms (the school is coed), there are now bathrooms complete with flushing toilets, sinks and even showers. The 100 boys and girls living at the school finally have access to decent sanitation for the first time in the school’s 60-year history.
The next step is to install a solar pump, which will supply with the school with a permanent source of running water. This water will be used for the showers and faucets and will flush the toilets. It will help to quench the students’ thirst and help them keep themselves clean.
The boys toilets that Drop in the Bucket constructed at the St Francis Madera School for the Blind in Uganda
The solar pump we need is not cheap, and we still need $26,000 to cover the purchase and installation. But for the first time in the school’s history, a brighter future is possible for these students. Partner with us to make it a reality. This school and its students have had to make significant sacrifices to get their most basic need, clean water, for the past 60 years. They shouldn’t have to wait a day more.
From youth leagues where kids 20 kids swarm one soccer ball to professional stadiums packed with hundreds of thousands of fans, sports bring people together. In the unforgiving climate and landscape of sub-Saharan Africa, games can be difficult to organize for an all-too-simple reason: Soccer balls can’t survive. Drop in the Bucket has partnered with the One World Play Project to try and change that,
School children playing soccer with one world futbols in Uganda.
The One World Play Project
The One World Play Project has developed a ball that feels, bounces and kicks like a standard soccer ball. Though there is one major difference. Thanks to their innovative bladder-less design, these balls never need to be inflated. And they’ve generously donated hundreds of these revolutionary balls to DROP to distribute. We have been enjoying distributing these One World Play Project balls to schools where we’re currently drilling wells.
One World Futbols are much more durable than regular balls due to their unique bladderless design.
A healthy childhood, after all, is built around safety, education and fun. DROP already works to improve sanitation in schools throughout the region by building toilets and sinks and showers and by building clean-water wells. When children are healthier, they’re able to attend school regularly. Educational experts also believe that play is an integral part of school. Physical exercise decreases boredom in the classroom and enhances students’ capacity to focus and learn. Sports also help to instill life lessons in a non-school setting.
Think back to the lessons that you learned from sports — the importance of preparation, the value of discipline and the good of being part of a team. These lessons help build children into healthy adults and go hand-in-hand with the mission of hard-working teachers.
These balls never need to be pumped up but bounce just like regular soccer balls thanks to their unique design.
Bringing communities together through sports
It’s important, too, to remember that sports are about fun. In a region finally at peace after more than two decades of war, soccer games can provide short windows of escape for children and adults. We hope that these balls will bring schools from different districts together for fun and healthy, competitive matches.
We see these soccer balls as an opportunity for friendships to be forged, lessons to be learned and communities to come together. The changes we are seeing when children are given these balls are exciting and encouraging. These balls from the One World Play Project are making a huge difference in these schools and we are happy to be a part of that change.
This article was originally published in the Santa Monica Observer Newspaper on July 9th 2015
Local couple shining a light for sight impaired children in Uganda.
The first time Los Angeles transplants John & Stacey Travis traveled to Africa was in 2006. Their careers in entertainment had earned them some success, but left them feeling compelled to do something to give back. That opportunity came with an invitation to accompany some doctors from Stacey’s hometown on a medical trip to a small village in rural Uganda.
The doctors they were traveling with were setting up makeshift clinics to treat people for a variety of diseases. John, Stacey, their friend Cassie and a handful of other volunteers were tasked with wrangling the crowds into orderly lines. It became quickly apparent that the doctors and volunteers had a big task ahead of them. “Literally everybody was sick with something,” said Stacey. “And almost all of it was caused by the dirty water they were drinking. We knew we had to do something to help but we knew we had to get to the cause rather than just continuing to treat the symptoms.” The solution had to involve better drinking water.
After looking into various filtration systems and other ways to clean water, they found that the most cost effective and sustainable solution was also the simplest: drilling water wells!
A child holding up a container of clean water from a well.
That trip to Africa became the start of a long and unexpected journey that has now grown into an organization called Drop in the Bucket, a group which has now completed over 300 wells in East Africa.
One of their most ambitious projects is one they are currently working on at the St. Francis Madera School for the Blind in Uganda. The school opened in 1955 and is the only school solely dedicated to educating visually impaired children in the country.
Being a child in rural Uganda already presents several challenges… being a blind child, considerably amplifies those challenges and adds many more. There are no paved roads, so every tree stump, pothole or rock becomes a hazard. Unable to defend themselves, they are at risk of child abuse, abduction and abandonment. So often, out of protection, the children are kept in a very sheltered existence of a small village, a few huts or sometimes just one room. These children have had to struggle to survive.
Like many of the schools in Uganda, Madera was built out of necessity. Visually impaired children did not have facilities that could treat their specific needs. In fact, local communities often didn’t see the need to educate handicapped children at all.
Word quickly spread that there was a school in Soroti that would take blind children. Many parents from all over the country had brought their special needs children to Madera and left them there, never to return. As a result, Madera became a full-time boarding school with students living on campus.
The school turns the future around for the now nearly 200 students. For the first time their lives become full of hope, possibility and potential.
The children are taught to read and write in Braille and receive vocational training, but more importantly, the students develop social skills and friendships they could have never experienced before. They help each other learn and grow as a family.
The marching band made up of sight impaired pupils from the Madera School for the Blind in Uganda
Some of the biggest breakthroughs have occurred through the children’s love of music. The school even formed a marching band that performs any chance they get. The instruments they are playing may be held together with duct tape and they may be using large twigs instead of drumsticks, but these kids are happy to be playing music together and put the same energy and enthusiasm into performing as they would if they were playing the halftime show at the Rose Bowl.
Through this marching band, they have discovered a way to connect with each other and develop a strong sense of belonging. The band is bringing the community together through the joy of music.
Drop in the Bucket is working with the Madera school to improve the living conditions. Plans are in place to install a solar pump for access to clean, drinkable water, and specially designed showers and toilets for the sight-impaired will be installed in both dorms.
The organization has already raised the money to fund the construction of two sets of toilets for the school, which are currently being built. The toilets themselves are unique in that unlike most toilets in the developing world, they actually treat the sewage rather than just storing it.
They are still raising money to do more work at the school and that includes a specially designed well to supply the school with water for the toilets, the kitchen, hand washing stations and even showers (a first for the organization). “This is the biggest project we have ever taken on for a single school,” said John Travis. “But the children’s needs are so specific and unique that almost everything we are doing has to be customized to work for the sight-impaired.” He continued, “When you live here in Southern California you end up taking so much for granted. Until this most recent drought most of us didn’t have any reason to think about access to water. That all changes when you go to parts of Africa where for most people finding some water to drink is their number one daily concern.”
To learn more about Drop in the Bucket and find out how you can help the Madera School for the Blind, please visit: www.dropinthebucket.org/madera
An update on our work at the St Francis Madera School for the Blind
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to our fundraising campaign to provide clean water and toilets at the Madera School for the Blind in Uganda. This is the largest project we have ever taken on for a single school and it is considerably more expensive than anything we have done in the past, but it is also one of the projects we are most proud of.
Construction at the boys’ urinal at the St Francis Madera school for the blind in Uganda.
Two sight impaired children walk past the new toilets at the St Francis Madera School for the Blind
Here are some photos that show the construction that is coming along nicely. Both sets of septics are now finished and both sets of toilets are almost done. In the photos you can see a sink and the boys urinal that are close to being finished. We still have to finish the showers and we still need to raise some money for the solar pump. If you are interested in making a donation please click here
Thank you so much for making this all possible with your amazing generosity and support.
At DROP, we love sharing stories of our work but it’s always nice when someone else see the significance of our work and decides to share it, too.
Below is an article from Uganda’s largest newspaper, the New Vision. We were pleased with the piece but need to point out one inaccuracy: The story says that the technology behind the toilets is from South Africa. In reality, we first designed and began building these types of sanitation systems in Uganda in 2007 using a roundabout pump we had custom built. The South African based NGO, Water For All, donated 20 similar pumps, one of which was used for this project.
This particular school project was made possible by a donation from an Ohio-based company called Earnest Machine. Every time a donor sponsors a well, we like to include an inscription of the donor’s choosing, and Earnest Machine decided to have us inscribe their slogan, “Intentionally Better.” We loved those words because they a standard for something to aspire to for everyone involved in the project, from Earnest Machine to DROP to Hope Junior.
The school is new performing better than ever at their end-of-term exams. Before the toilets, many children—primarily girls—were forced to drop out. Not only are many of them back in school now, but other kids in the district are coming to the school as well. Since we built the toilets, the school has hired new teachers and added three buildings, including a separate nursery school. Now allow New Vision to share with you our latest success story.
New Vision – April 11th 2015
Pupils of Hope Junior School washing their hands after visiting toilet.
Photos and text By Francis Emorut
Government has been asked to adopt new flush toilet technology from South Africa for schools across the country to curb poor hygiene.
The flush toilets technology the first of its kind has been installed at Hope Junior School in Soroti district.
According to Julius Olobo the manager of Drop in the Bucket the new technology has become a model of learning in Soroti district.
The toilets are clean and are used by a population of 324 pupils of Hope Junior School.
Water and sanitation officers in eastern region appealed to government to replicate the technology countryside to combat poor hygiene and relief from a burden of digging pit latrines after they become full.
Pupils of Hope Junior School fetching water connected to flush toilets in Soroti district using new technology.
“The government should take advantage of the new technology and spread it countryside,” Bony Komakech, the environmental health officer in Nakapiripirit said.
Komakech was supported by Ronald Ssebuliba a technical water officer in Wakiso district who said the new technology would facilitate good practices of hygiene and therefore, government should spearhead the crusade to have such facility installed in every school.
Sr. Christine Nanyazi the head of women’s Group in Kaabong district said the new flush toilet technology is ideal for schools since they have big population and it will promote good hygiene
The flush toilets are constructed in the form of pit-latrine separated for both boys and girls but has underground water tank of 4,000 litres while the tank erected up contains 1,000 litres of water.
The two tanks supply constant water to the toilets using a motorized system.
The motorized system is connected to the borehole, wheel pump and to the tanks.
“Many interested parties including the ministry of education have visited this place to learn how the flush toilet technology works,” Olobo the manager of Drop in the Bucket told water and sanitation regional officers.
The water and sanitation officers were in a field tour organized by Water and Sanitation Network Uganda (UWASNET).
Olobo explained that technology is the first pilot project in Teso region while in Acholi and Lango sub-regions the technology is available in six and five schools respectively.
According to Olobo the technology was borrowed from South Africa and it costs sh80m.
Olobo said the flush toilets can be used for a period of 20-50 years. It has septic tank.
He said it’s ideal because it saves school administration from constant digging of latrines.
“It has become a centre of learning in Teso region,” Olobo said.
The cleanness of the toilets has contributed to retention of girls in school.
Pupils of Hope Junior School in Soroti district playing using a roundabout pump that is used in the new technology.
“Because the place is clean the menstruating girls can pad themselves,” the school’s headteacher Julius Edwonu noted.
Edwonu also pointed out that both the boys and girls supervise each other and this ensures cleanness for both toilets.
The technology enables pupils to sit on the wheel pump (popularly known as Mary go system) and rotate themselves around moving in a faster speed.
Earlier the water and sanitation officers were trained in documenting success stories in the water and sanitation sector.
“You should be able to document a success story that informs your partners of achievements made in water and sanitation,” Rehema Aanyu the UWASNET liaison and advocacy officer said.
The water and sanitation officers promised to ensure that the flush toilet technology is adopted in their respective districts.
Water and sanitation officers examining a septic tank for the flush toilets of Hope Junior School in Soroti district.
This article was originally published in Uganda’s New Vision newspaper. To view it on their website please go to this link.
Founded in 2007, the Obey Awareness Program, operated by Obey Clothing designs, began as a way that artist, designer, and humanitarian Shepard Fairey could support causes he believes in by selling specially designed merchandise and donating 100% of the money raised from that merchandise to hand picked organizations and their causes.
Shepard is a strong believer that clean water is a human right and this year Drop in the Bucket was honored by being one of only two causes chosen for the 2013 season. This year’s other organization is Jail Guitar Doors which provides musical instruments to incarcerated people.
We are extremely honored to have the support of Shepard and everyone at Obey Clothing and are very excited to be able to see these great designs turn into clean water and toilets at schools in Africa. To pick up your stylish shirts please visit Obey Clothing’s online store today!
Ayum Mary Diny
Level 1 – p2 Salam Girls School, Aweil South Sudan
19 years old
Ayum Mary Diny loves school. Unfortunately due to decades of war she spent most of her childhood unable to go to school, like so many of her friends in South Sudan. Npw that the fighting has stopped Ayum is now 19 years old and only in the second grade.
When Ayum was in the first grade, her mom got sick, so Ayum had to leave school, go back to her village to take care of her ailing mother along and the rest of her siblings. Ayum being the oldest felt she had to assume responsibility for her brothers and sisters and make sure they were well cared for while their mother was sick. Unfortunately their mother died, so Ayum felt even more burdened to act as the parent to her brothers and sisters, especially since their father was not around.
Ayum spent her days making meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning the home, and more. She was so exhausted by the end of each day that she could barely think, let alone keep up with her studies.
Ayum realized that she was spending almost five hours everyday fetching water walking from the closest well, so she decided to dig a well herself. She thought that if there was a well nearby she might actually have time to study. However, her hand-dug soon started attracting mosquitoes and became a risk for malaria and other bacteria. Ayum knew the water was unsafe to drink, but didn’t feel like she had any other choice but to use the polluted water.
During this stressful time in her life, Ayum would often become discouraged and depressed. She felt that she would never get to go back to school. Things turned around for Ayum and the family when her uncle returned home from the war. He was able to take on the role as caretaker for the Diny children, and Ayum was finally able to return to school!
Ayum is not in the same class as any of her old friends. They were able to stay in school the whole time she was absent and are now in more advanced years. But Ayum doesn’t mind at all, she is just so happy to be back in school, writing poems, learning about infectious diseases, and hanging out with her friends during class breaks. Ayum knows she has a great future ahead of her. She hopes to one day become a doctor and discover the cure for malaria.
The well at the Alworo Primary School of 593 children was completed in February 2008. The toilets, septics, hand-washing station, roundabout pump and underground reservoir tank soon followed. This was also the first school at which we upgraded the doors from wooden doors to steel doors.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Alworo primary school
In 2007 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the Alworo primary school in Uganda.
Our good friend Robinah set up a nursery school named after her father in Imanyiro. She also runs a Primary school in the Jinja area, but “Pop’s Place” in Imanyiro is a particularly great school. Rather than trying to educate hungry children, Robinah makes sure that all the school children get to eat at least one nutritious meal daily, and now they also have a well.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket Africa water wells completed projects Imanyiro village
In 2006 Los Angeles based non-profit Drop in the Bucket drilled their first well. This well was at the Imanyiro village in Uganda.
