September often marks a time of new beginnings—returning to work after vacation, back to school, and planning for the rest of the year. In Bubanza, one of the poorest regions in northwestern Burundi, access to clean water and sanitation is far from guaranteed. Poor water quality and a lack of toilets mean that many children, especially girls, cannot safely attend school. This issue casts a long shadow over their future.
The challenges in Bubanza
Did you know that globally, 1 in 3 schools does not have adequate toilets, and 23% of schools have no toilets at all? In Burundi, only 41% of primary schools have access to clean drinking water, and 34% of schools lack proper toilets for girls. This forces many girls to stay home during their menstruation, jeopardizing their education and future. Join For Water works with local partners such as AVEDEC and Greening Burundi to improve this situation, but the needs remain high.
A story of change
Anny Christa Iranyibutse, a 16-year-old girl from Bubanza, shares how the new ecological toilets at her school have changed her life: “Before, the latrines at our school were in poor condition and very dirty. Now we have modern ecological toilets, with separate spaces for girls and boys. I’m no longer afraid to use the toilet, and I feel much safer at school.
We’ve also learned how to keep the toilets clean and maintained, and we can even use the fertilizer from the latrines for our families’ farming.”
Our call to action: toilets save lives
With your help, we want to build two blocks of latrines at the ECOFO school in Rurabo, including separate facilities for girls like Anny Christa. With €11,000, we can provide 631 children with access to clean and safe toilets each school year.
Your donation of €40 will ensure that 2 children can use a clean toilet every day. Every amount, big or small, makes a difference.
Want to learn more about our work in Burundi?
Would you like to meet our partners from Burundi and other countries where we operate? Join us on September 26th at our International Water Café. More information and registration: International WaterCafé
