This project will provide ablutions for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park to improve hygiene & sanitation & reduce their chances of contracting dangerous diseases like typhoid & cholera, which are prevalent in the area. This project will also build a fence around the perimeter to keep the children safe from dangerous wild animals which occur here in high numbers. The ultimate goal is to increase ECD admissions & give children a better start in life.
The ECD classes at Hwange's Main Camp Primary School currently share a single communally used squat toilet with no hand-washing facilities. The risk of contracting cholera or typhoid is high in this area. Unsanitary ablutions thereby pose a serious threat to children as they are highly-susceptible and their long-term development can be negatively affected. The ECD classroom and play area is also unfenced and children are at risk from dangerous free-roaming wild animals in the park.
ABCF will build age-appropriate ablutions for the ECD classes with running water to improve sanitation and hygiene, reducing the risk of contracting dangerous illnesses associated with poor hygiene. ABCF will also construct a fence around the classrooms, play area and ablutions, keeping the children safe from wild animals. Improvements to the ECD classrooms; plastering & painting work, will also be done to make the learning area more appealing, creating a safe and conducive learning environment.
The long-term impact of this project is creating a safe environment for young children starting their education journey and increasing ECD enrollment rates because parents will no-longer want keep their children home for fear of their safety. ECD is linked to improved performance in school and beyond, and is therefore the first step in improving long-term economic development and breaking the cycle of poverty.
