Clean, Safe Water and Improved Latrines: DMDO’s Impact at Mandwanga Primary School

In Mandwanga primary school, Mtama District Council, access to clean and safe water as well as proper sanitation and hygiene was a serious challenge. Girls lacked privacy, boys queued for limited stalls and teachers had no dedicated facilities. Hygiene was poor and clean water was difficult to access.

Teachers’ and students’ old latrines

Improved Latrines

In 2021, DMDO brought clean and safe water to the village and the school.   With water reliably available, DMDO turned its focus to sanitation. Today, Mandwanga Primary School proudly features:

• 11 improved toilet stalls for girls

• 8 improved stalls for boys

• 2 stalls for teachers

• Handwashing station to reinforce hygiene habits

• An incinerator for safe disposal of waste materials

• A 1000 litre Sim tank to ensure water is always available

SWASH Club teachers attend DMDO-led training in sanitation and hygiene.

Empowering Through Education: SWASH Club Training

Recognizing that infrastructure alone isn’t enough, DMDO also provided sanitation and hygiene education to SWASH Club teachers across the Mandwanga ward. This training empowered educators to promote healthy habits, maintain facilities and instil lifelong hygiene practices in students, ensuring the impact goes beyond the school walls.

Empowering Girls

Before the new toilets, girls often missed school during menstruation due to lack of privacy and hygiene. Now, with clean, safe and private facilities, their attendance has improved dramatically. The incinerator has made menstrual hygiene manageable and discreet allowing girls to focus on learning without fear or shame.

Academic Gains

With the burden of poor sanitation lifted, students now enjoy a healthier and more focused learning environment. The school’s academic performance has improved significantly as access to clean water and proper latrines has eliminated distractions and discomfort that once disrupted concentration.

A Teacher’s Perspective

Teacher Michael William at the newly improved teachers’ latrine

“The changes are big. Our latrines are always clean because water is always available. Students are healthier, more confident and more focused in class. It is a transformation we never thought possible.” Teacher Michael

A New Way of Life

The impact of improved latrines goes far beyond the physical structures. Cases of typhoid and other waterborne diseases have dropped significantly. Teachers now enjoy a cleaner and more professional environment. Hygiene has become a daily habit, not a

Prosperity begins where there is access. By ensuring clean, safe water as well as sanitation and hygiene for schools, we lay the groundwork for healthier lives, stronger families and transformed communities.