Restoring Dignity and Confidence Through Safe Sanitation

At Nthabza and Mchoka Primary Schools, the previous latrine facilities for female students were in severe disrepair - with cracked structures, gaping holes, and no privacy doors. These conditions posed serious safety risks, especially for girls needing to relieve themselves or manage their menstruation during school hours.

Without access to hygienic, private facilities, menstrual hygiene products, or support from teachers or the broader school community, girls were often forced to miss school or risk public humiliation. The stigma surrounding menstruation, combined with the fear of being seen or shamed, led many to stay home, limiting their ability to learn and thrive.

Some students from Nthabva Primary School – behind them are the newly constructed latrines.

Thanks to the support of the Unifor Social Justice Fund, CPAR worked to change this reality by constructing Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines at both schools. Each school received five new latrine blocks, 10 stances in total, with dedicated, private facilities for girls to manage their menstruation with dignity.

These new facilities have had an immediate and powerful impact. As 14-year-old Jean Masauto from Mchoka Primary School shared:

“We used to have a long queue waiting for someone to come out from a latrine due to inadequate sanitary facilities at our school.” 

Jean elaborated that the insufficient number of latrines at her school prevented many students from utilizing the limited facilities available. Consequently, this led to students resorting to open defecation in the surrounding school bushes, thereby rendering the school environment unhygienic.

The new infrastructure has improved hygiene, restored a sense of dignity, and significantly reduced school absenteeism among girls. By creating a safer, more supportive environment, this project is not just improving attendance, it is transforming lives.

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