CSR Case Studies: Endeavour Mining Access to water improves learning

THE CHALLENGE

The Anwia and TelekuBokazo communities in the Ellembelle District of Western Region, Ghana, have existing basic schools. However these schools do not have adequate toilet and water facilities supportive of learning and personal hygiene. The existing toilets were previously out of use and the school children had to use facilities outside of the school compounds.

The Ellembelle District Education Director requested support from Adamus to help increase access to toilet and water facilities to improve the learning environment for pupils and teachers, and reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases.

One of the completed toilet facilities at Anwia

PROJECT OVERVIEW

To increase pupils’ participation in school and reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases within the TelekuBokazo and Anwia school communities.

This was achieved through:
• Constructing one eight-seater aqua-privy toilet facility for TelekuBokazo junior high school, and the Anwia primary and junior high schools.
• Constructing boreholes with pumps at the TelekuBokazo and Anwia basic schools.
• Teaching school children to use the new toilet facilities provided instead of defecating openly around the school compound.
• Educating school children to wash their hands with soap after visiting the toilet facilities.

This project started in February 2012 and was completed in May 2012.

BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT

The direct beneficiaries of this project were the 552 public basic school pupils between the ages of 6 and 17 in the TelekuBokazo and Anwia communities. Pupils attending these schools have benefited from the improved toilet facilities and access to potable water, and the hours they attend school have increased.

More broadly the community has benefited as the potential as water-borne diseases has been reduced through improved health and hygiene practices.

ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS

The below organisations worked in partnership to plan and implement this project:

Ghana Education Service (GES) – Ellembelle District Assembly
Provided general education and awareness-raising on the importance of this project, and is responsible for ongoing maintenance.

Australian Government – AusAid, Direct Aid Programme
AusAid’s Direct Aid Programme provided $A29,812 funding to construct the boreholes and the toilets. This represented 43% of the total project costs.

Adamus Resources Limited
Adamus was responsible for the overall project management, implementation and monitoring, and provided the sanitation and hygiene education to pupils. The company contributed $A40,783, 57% of the total project cost. Adamus was also the direct recipient of the DAP Grant for the project.

Beneficiary Communities
The Anwia and TelekuBokazo communities provided the labour to build the toilet facilities.
The Parents and Teachers Association and the school management staff provided:
• The site/land for the project;
• Ongoing maintenance of the facilities;
• Project implementation management and monitoring;
• Continuous sanitation and hygiene education to pupils; and
• Education to ensure the pupils used the facilities in a hygienic manner.

The total budget for the project was $A70,595.

OUTCOMES TO DATE

This project has been successful in achieving the planned objectives as the pupils at the Anwia and TelekuBokazo basic schools now demonstrate good health and hygiene practices when using the new toilet facilities. This, along with the provision of potable water, has reduced the potential for the spread of water-borne diseases.

The new toilet facilities are located inside the school compounds, reducing the time it takes the pupils to go to the toilet, resulting in an increase in school contact hours.

Positive long-term relationships have resulted from the partnerships established between the AHC, Adamus and the communities in planning and implementing this project. This has enhanced the positive image of Adamus and AHC locally, regionally and nationally.

The second secretary at the AHC, Mr. Ian Gould, handing over a water project to the headteacher of TelekuBokazo basic school (standing left).

CONCLUSION

This project demonstrates how organisations can contribute to the sustainable development of African communities by improving health outcomes. Greater outcomes can be achieved through partnerships that foster positive and open communication to bridge organisational and interpersonal differences to achieve a common goal.

For further information regarding this project please contact Endeavour Mining.