Collaborating to Transform School Hygiene
In rural Southern Tanzania, Magigiwe Primary School has recently undergone a practical transformation. Until recently students had inconsistent access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities. Now, through partnership between Nawiri Foundation and Afya Plus, the school has a fully operational water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) system benefitting 279 students.
This collaboration is part of our wider impact strategy to improve educational outcomes by investing in essential infrastructure creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive learning environments for school children.
Partnering with Afya Plus
Afya Plus is a longstanding Tanzanian non-governmental organisation working to strengthen community systems in health, education and water access. In the Mbeya regions, it runs the SWASH (School Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme, which focuses on improving basic conditions in public schools.
Afya Plus brought in-depth local knowledge and experience to the project, managing construction, installation and training at Magigiwe. Local contractors were used to build and install the system. The facilities are durable, low-maintenance and designed to last in a school setting. The project scope included:
Rehabilitation of existing toilet facilities
Construction of girls’ changing rooms to support menstrual hygiene management
Building of an incinerator for the safe disposal of sanitary waste
Installation of two handwashing stations, each with eight taps.
A new water tower equipped with 10,000-liter storage tanks supplying running water to the toilets, the kitchen area and the washing stations
The school serves 279 students. Until now, those students had limited options for basic hygiene. With the new facilities in place, handwashing is becoming routine. Toilets are clean and safe. There is a tap near the kitchen for cooking and cleaning. The facility is fully plumbed and functional. There are no longer queues for a single tap, or long walks to access water.
We have also provided access to water by building water towers of 10,000 each to three other schools, Mlungu, Msangaji and Mapogoro B primary schools in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region.
Hygiene linked to education outcomes
Studies from UNICEF and the World Bank show that basic WASH facilities are strongly linked to improved attendance. Children who attend schools without toilets or water are more likely to fall ill or stay home. Diarrhoeal disease, intestinal worms and skin infections are more common in schools without hygiene facilities. A healthier learning environment means better well-being, improved attendance, and brighter futures.
In particular, girls are disproportionately affected by poor school hygiene. Without access to private, safe toilets and clean water, many stop attending during menstruation or drop out entirely. At Magigiwe, the new sanitation blocks were built with this in mind. The design includes separate facilities for female learners, helping reduce the stigma that often keeps girls at home. This is particularly prevelant at upper primary level improving educational outcomes for girls, helping to close the gender gap in rural education.
At Magigiwe, the improvements are already helping reduce these risks. The teachers report better attendance and fewer reported absences linked to illness. With fewer sick days, students are more likely to stay on track with their learning. This supports our goal to improve access to quality education in rural areas where school infrastructure is sometimes limited.
Improving the future for the Greater Ruaha ecosystem
Mbarali sits near the edge of the Ruaha ecosystem. The challenges facing this region are connected. Deforestation, degraded water catchments and pressure on public infrastructure are linked to poverty and weak local services. Strengthening education is part of the wider solution. By staying in school, children have a better chance to participate in the region’s economy and future as they get older. And by attending a school with working toilets and clean water, they are safer, healthier and more likely to succeed.
Next steps
Our focus remains practical, improving the quality of education, in part by improving the learning conditions in schools to reduce absenteeism and support learning. The impact is visible and measurable. Targeted investment in school infrastructure can contribute to education goals and reduce the barriers that prevent children from attending school, creating a step towards a stronger, more resilient future for the region.