
25/07/2025
Handover of Handwashing Facilities in Nkeyema Schools
As part of ongoing efforts to improve access to inclusive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools, the Healthy Empowered and Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (HER WASH) Project successfully handed over four permanent handwashing facilities to selected schools in Nkeyema District on 23 July 2025. This event marked a significant milestone in WaterAid Zambia’s work to strengthen school WASH systems and promote hygiene behaviour change for long-term health outcomes.
HER WASH is a collaborative initiative led by WaterAid Zambia, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the District Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (DWASHE) committee, and supported by Sulzer. The project aims to improve WASH infrastructure, strengthen systems, and promote advocacy in 20 schools across selected districts.
The event marked the official commissioning and handover of four new handwashing facilities constructed in public schools in Nkeyema District. The infrastructure includes permanent, inclusive, and durable handwashing stations designed to support proper hygiene practices among learners and staff.
Speaking during the event, the Nkeyema District Commissioner commended the multi-stakeholder approach and highlighted the power of partnership in driving sustainable change, especially in rural schools. The facilities are already being utilized by learners and have contributed to improved hygiene behaviours within school communities.
The handover also reflects the HER WASH Project’s broader advocacy impact. At Shimano Secondary School, project-supported advocacy has enabled the school to access and apply Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources for the development of an independent water supply system, demonstrating the success of localized, evidence-driven advocacy in resource mobilization.
The facilities provide a safer, healthier learning environment and reinforce the critical role of hygiene in protecting learners’ health, dignity, and resilience.
The handover of handwashing facilities in Nkeyema is a tangible outcome of coordinated advocacy, community participation, and technical support under HER WASH. It is a step forward in making clean water, decent sanitation, and good hygiene a daily reality for all learners in Zambia.