"The Sanitation Project - NITSU"

The people of Ethiopia suffer from a lack of clean water and sanitation infrastructure. The  lack of clean water results in disease, malnutrition, and poor hygiene.  On a broader scale, poverty increases and education decreases.  Nitsu aims to decrease these negative effects by providing clean water, showering facilities, toilets, supplies and hygiene education to the students and faculty at the Ligaba Bayene school in Wolaita Soddo. 

According to UNICEF reports on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Ethiopia, 60 to 80 % of communicable diseases are attributed to limited access to safe water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene services. In addition, an estimated 50% of the consequences of under nutrition are caused by environmental factors that include poor hygiene and lack of access to water supply and sanitation. Multiple studies have shown that school attendance dramatically increases when students have access to clean water for hygiene, especially in the adolescent female population. 

Hygiene and sanitation is an important concern for the visually impaired students at the Ligaba Bayene primary school in  Wolita Soddo. We currently serve 36 visually impaired students that have extremely limited access to showers in their homes and school. Students currently shower in public city showers for a fee. There are few  toilets and no gender specific areas for feminine hygiene needs. 

Nitsu Project aims to solve this problem by building showers and restrooms for visually impaired students in Ligaba Beyene primary  school to  maintain proper hygiene. Nitsu will provide students with soap. Female students will also have access to necessary feminine hygiene products.

The anticipated outcome is that students will attend school more regularly and will attain a higher graduation rate.