Back to school season is a time of excitement, anticipation, and fresh opportunities. For the students at Okile Primary School in Uganda, this year brings something even more powerful: a school environment transformed by comprehensive Water+ solutions—access to clean water, decent toilets, and hygiene education.
From Challenges to Change
Okile Primary School is a government-aided school in Kaberamaido District in eastern Uganda and home to 852 students, 433 girls and 419 boys. Until recently, these students faced significant challenges to their health and learning because their school lacked access to clean drinking water and safe toilets.
The well at Okile Primary School was broken, leaving students and teachers without a nearby source of clean water. As a result, they were forced to walk long distances to fetch water from unsafe locations. This not only increased the risk of waterborne diseases but also took time away from learning and teaching. Carrying heavy containers of water became a daily burden, especially for children.
The students also had problems with the toilet facilities. The girls faced barriers to privacy and hygiene, especially during menstruation. Meanwhile, the boys’ toilet block had only five stalls shared by 419 boys. Long lines formed during breaks, forcing some students to use the teachers’ quarters instead. In addition to being congested, the walls were cracked, ventilation was poor, and urine often pooled on the floor.
“Imagine, 419 boys but only 5 stalls. It makes our pupils’ lives so hard that some run to the teachers’ quarters to ease themselves,” said Etodu Simon, the Deputy Head Teacher at Okile Primary School.
Without safe, separate facilities, many students missed school.
Implementing Comprehensive Water+ Solutions
Working with our local partner and school leadership, we implemented the following solutions:
- A well fix, giving 1,261 people safe water access
- Constructed a girls toilet block, providing a decent toilet for 433 girls
- Constructed a boys toilet block, providing a decent toilet for 419 boys
- Installed classroom water filters
- Trained students on making and producing soap
Today, the entire school has access to safe water and decent toilets!
At Surge, we believe solutions must be community owned, meaning the people we work with are the decision-makers, caretakers, and stewards of the systems we build together. With our local partner, we ensured that Okile Primary School was trained on proper maintenance.
These improvements have reshaped daily life at Okile Primary School. Students no longer have to wait in long toilet lines or worry about finding safe water to drink. Teachers report cleaner classrooms and healthier students. The school is now a safer, more inclusive space where every child can focus on learning.
“Thank you for the incredible support… This improvement has greatly enhanced our learning environment,” Ekinu Raphael, student
Back to School with Health & Dignity
For Okile Primary School, this back to school season is more than just the start of a new term. It marks the beginning of a healthier, more hopeful chapter. Access to safe water, proper toilets, and good hygiene practices ensures every child can return to class ready to learn, grow, and dream.
Written by Lily Ha, Marketing & Development Intern
