When women lead, girls succeed: Building healthy schools, empowering students
A Community Wash Promoter (right) in Fenta, Abeshege District, Ethiopia, conducts a household visit to raise awareness about water treatment options, like cholrine tablets.
Across East Africa, women are at the forefront of transforming schools through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). As teachers, WASH promoters, and community leaders, they identify gaps, mobilize parents, and champion inclusive solutions that keep girls in school. From leading menstrual health training to managing real-time WASH monitoring, these women are not just improving facilities, they are changing mindsets, challenging stigma, and building a culture where clean water, safe sanitation, and dignity are everyone’s responsibility.
Through partnerships with the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Development Commission (EKHCDC), Aqua Clara Kenya (ACK), and Maji Safi Group (MSG), this initiative goes beyond installing taps and toilets. It focuses on empowering students, equipping them not only to attend school safely, but to become champions of WASH in their communities. When children learn healthy behaviours at school, such as handwashing and menstrual health management, they carry those lessons home, transforming entire communities through simple behaviour change.
At the heart of the effort are 40,682 children from 72 schools. With support from Global Affairs Canada and the Peter Gilgan Foundation, now students, teachers, and parent-teacher associations are working hand in hand to create safe, inclusive environments. Action plans to address barriers to inclusive learning environments were developed, and through ongoing consulting and coaching, teachers and school administrators are embedding WASH practices into daily school life.
A Menstrual Health and Hygiene Club in Ethiopia discusses different types of products that will help women and girls
Critically, these efforts address menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), a key factor in ensuring that girls stay in school. CAWST and its partners develop culturally sensitive resources and training sessions that engage male teachers and students, challenging stigma and fostering a supportive environment for all. Workshops and new curriculum materials make it clear: menstruation doesn’t just concern women and girls, it involves the entire community.
Technology plays a pivotal role in strengthening these efforts. Schools adopted mWater, a real-time data collection and monitoring platform. With mWater, schools can track WASH conditions, troubleshoot problems, and share successes across a network of schools and partners. This live feedback loop empowers faster, evidence-based decision-making and fosters a sense of connection across borders.
The power of partnerships magnified this impact. Aqua Clara Kenya provided technical support and leadership in Kenya. EKHCDC guided schools and local communities in Ethiopia with their extensive WASH experience. Maji Safi Group contributed expertise in menstrual health and community engagement strategies. These partners continue to work closely with schools, providing consulting and peer-learning opportunities that sustain improvements long after the initial training ends.
With 50 schools targeted under the latest phase and over 72,000 students set to benefit, the ripple effects are growing. Students have become change agents, teachers have become WASH champions, and schools have become centres of health and dignity.
This is what stronger together looks like: students, teachers, communities, and partners, united to break barriers to education through one handwashing station, one latrine, and one conversation at a time.
“More girls are using the sanitation facilities, which means they feel safer and more comfortable at school. This is a huge step forward!”
40,682 children in East Africa now learn in cleaner, safer schools thanks to women-led water, sanitation and hygiene. Donors makes this possible. Let’s reach even more.
