Water tank at Nyamaranya elementary school (Kenya)

Background

The Kuria region of Kenya is an area that is severely lacking in access to clean and safe water.

There is usually no running water in the schools, so students have to bring it from home, both for drinking and washing. But it is scarce, so the problem of hydration is compounded by the problem of lack of hygiene, which means that girls stop going to school when they have their menstruation.

This is compounded by the marginalization of women in general and the common practice of genital mutilation, which means that, especially girls, often do not complete their education, thus perpetuating the problem.