Having restroom facilities and running water are taken for granted in many parts of the world. Until a few weeks ago, the 100 students and staff at Nikuao Primary School, on an outer island of Kiribati, had no bathroom facilities, leaving them with some poor alternatives:
1. Run home. In addition to disrupting the school day, this created the high possibility that students might not return, especially those who had a long way to walk.
2. Suppress the need to go to the bathroom. Because there were no bathrooms, they often limited their water intake, which also made them susceptible to dehydration and infection. In any climate this would create health hazards, but in Kiribati, where the climate is hot and humid, this presented additional concerns.
3. Run to “the bush.” In addition to obvious health issues, this eliminated the opportunity to wash hands before returning to class.
- Sister Judy Brock, Humanitarian missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with some of the children who attend Nikuao Primary School.
- Ribbon cutting ceremony for new toilet and washing facilities, donated by Latter-day Saint Charities, at Nikuao Primary School, April 2020.
- Head Teacher, Attateti Ueantaake, of Nikuao Primary School on an outer island of Kiribati, gives a speech at ceremony for new toilet/washing facility at their school, April 2020.
- Some students of Nikuao Primary School perform a dance, April 2020.
- Some of the students of Nikuao Primary School, Kiribati.
- Inside a classroom at Nikuao Primary School, on an outer island of Kiribati.
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Because funding for bathroom facilities was not available on the island, and the status quo unacceptable, head teacher, Attateti Ueantaake, sent a letter to Latter-day Saint Charities requesting assistance.
With the help of many people, including Elder Jeff and Sister Judy Brock, humanitarian missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the new facilities were recently completed. They consist of three toilets, a shower and a 5000-liter water tank with two hand washing stations.
A ceremony was recently held, complete with a ribbon cutting, dance performance by some of the students, and speeches.