My name is Nanteza Stella, a pupil of Madalasa Primary School and I am in Primary Five. I want to express my thanks to COMASA for the work that was done in our school. Before COMASA came to our school, I didn’t like to attend and school every time my mother woke me up to go to school I was hesitant. I preferred to stay at home to do housework because I was afraid of the poor latrines in our school. The latrines were very old and always dirty and we shared latrines with boys. We used to line up and at times fight each other to get a chance to access the toilet at break time. Some boys used to abuse girls when they entered the latrines and at times peeped at us. Hand washing after latrine use was a nightmare and we used to go straight to the kitchen to drink our porridge. We were ignorant of the negative effects of not washing hands and other poor hygiene practices.

However when COMASA project came to our school the sanitation status improved. We now have two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines. The boys were given a separate block as well as the girls, hand washing facilities were installed nearby the latrines and whenever we come out of the latrine we immediately wash our hands. The latrines have messages which remind us on how to use the latrines properly. All the girls are happy to have separate latrines because the boys can’t peep at us. We enjoy our privacy and we ensure that the latrines are always clean.

I am very happy with my school and I have encouraged my mother to bring my young brother to the same schoolbecause it has the best latrine in the parish.

I do appeal to well wishers to assist other schools in Nakyerongosa to get VIP latrines so as to ensure that many pupils attend school without any hindrances.