Happy pupils at Nakruto Primary School draw water from their school tank. Photo/Hilton Mwabili

Over 5000 learners across four learning institutions in Rarieda Constituency, in Siaya County have benefitted from a Ksh12 million sustainable water supply project rolled out by The Empowerment Relief and Inclusion Agenda (TERIA), an initiative.

The initiative led by Linet Kohanya Amollo, wife of the Rarieda MP Dr. Otiende Amollo, entails sinking boreholes to schools in marginalized areas of the constituency, empower the marginalized and vulnerable groups in the society, menstrual hygiene management and sexual reproductive health rights for adolescents and youths.

The initiative have so far sank boreholes at the Rarieda Technical and Vocational College in Mahaya, Rarieda KMTC situated in Masala area, Agok and Osewre Primary schools in Uyoma.

Speaking during the commissioning, Amollo said the initiative will continue to empower the marginalized and vulnerable groups in the society and make sure students get clean water to enable them perform well in their studies.

“TERIA’s objective is to empower the marginalized and vulnerable groups of the society by improving their livelihoods and access to equal economic and social opportunities through sustainable ways. We seek for partnership and linkages with donors and other well-wishers to help us reach out to the underprivileged learners and so far we are glad that we have impacted on the lives of over 10,000 people because the project also benefit the community members,” stated Mrs. Amollo.

She added that they also concentrate on menstrual hygiene management and sexual reproductive health rights for adolescents and youths under the Rarieda Girl Power Initiative.

“We have purposed to conduct menstrual hygiene clinics across our secondary schools where we visit and distribute washable sanitary towels and menstrual cups to girls in Rarieda Constituency under our program dubbed ‘Rarieda Girl Power Initiative’ this one has successfully ensured retention of girls in schools and seen them transit to colleges,” she noted.

Amollo however,  challenged the management of schools in Rarieda constituency to ensure they make the learning institutions suitably equipped to facilitate menstrual hygiene.  “Schools can embrace menstrual hygiene friendly environments by putting up private toilets which are equipped with options for the disposal of the used menstrual products for the girls.”

The imitative also advocate though ‘Read and Learn’ initiative that involves education and literacy in schools and community, Empowerment initiative for women and youth, Climate Action, mental health as well as mentorship and skills for the youth