“Before this borehole was provided, the pupils had to draw water from the open wells around, which were not wholesome for drinking and also exposed the school pupils to danger” - Joyce Akanbegchaab (headmistress)
In the heart of the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region, a community named Piisa, with a population of 635 people struggled to survive each day.
Headmistress of the school Joyce Akanbegchaab
Piisa's pride and hope, the Piisa-Gobsa primary school/kindergarten, saw its birth in 2013, serving as a beacon of education for nearby communities, including Gobsa and Kanjarga. This humble institution encompassed a kindergarten and a primary school, nurturing 267 eager young minds under the watchful eyes of five dedicated staff members, including three devoted teachers and two diligent caterers. The ages of the pupils spanned from tender 3-year-olds to ambitious 14-year-olds.
Before the timely intervention by Water Access Now, a horrifying ordeal unfolded daily. The students of Piisa-Gobsa had no choice but to either draw water from treacherous open wells or embark on a grueling 1-kilometer long journey to fetch water from a distant borehole in the community. The lack of a safe water source on the school premises or in the nearby houses shackled the dreams of these innocent souls. Desperate children scurried for water, stealing precious contact hours from their education. The open wells, with their haphazard construction, posed a looming threat, endangering the lives of the innocent pupils as they risked life and limb to quench their thirst. A heart-rending situation that left the school authorities and entire community in despair.
Before – School pupils accessing water from an open well.
Mrs. Joyce Akanbegchaab, the valiant headmistress of the school, echo’s the collective gratitude of the school and entire community in this statement: "Before this borehole was provided, the pupils had to draw water from the open well around, and that was quite dangerous. The water was also unwholesome. The other alternative was for them to walk a far distance to a borehole, and this affected our instructional time and teaching and learning in general. Now there is no need for children to squander their break time in search of water. As such, teaching and learning have been greatly improved. Students are now also able to practice proper handwashing, and the caterers also have clean water to prepare the meals of pupils. I would, on behalf of the school and the community, thank Water Access Now and CRS for this intervention. May God richly bless them, and I pray such initiatives are extended to others who might also be in need."
After – School pupils accessing water from the borehole.
