CFAO MOBILITY KENYA AND GOAL SETTERS’ FOUNDATION PARTNERS TO IMPROVE WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS
CFAO Mobility Kenya Limited, in partnership with Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM), Toyota Kenya Foundation, and implementing non-profit partner Goal Setters Foundation, has officially launched the 'Maji na Ufanisi: Transforming Hand Hygiene for Learners in Kiambu County' project.
The KES 1.2 million (€7,000 / ~€9,000) grant initiative, funded through the global CFAO Solidarité Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grant scheme, aims to improve health, pupil attendance, and learning outcomes across public primary schools in Kiambu County.
The official launch ceremony was held at Githunguri Ranching Primary & Junior School in Ruiru Sub-County, under the national theme "Promoting Hand Hygiene for Healthy and Dignified Learning".
The initiative addresses critical Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) gaps while reinforcing sustainable hand hygiene habits among learners,
teachers, and school leadership.
The Maji na Ufanisi project serves five public primary and comprehensive schools across Ruiru and Thika Sub-Counties, encompassing a total student population of 11,507 learners. The initiative will strengthen access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services while promoting sustainable hand hygiene practices among learners, teachers and school communities. Through grant funding, the programme will support
the installation of functional, gender-sensitive handwashing facilities, strengthen hygiene knowledge and skills among teachers and school leaders, and promote daily hand hygiene behaviours among learners through structured School Health Clubs.
The programme will also seek to strengthen community ownership by mobilizing parents, school management and local communities to participate in the implementation and sustainability of the WASH interventions.
Commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Josephine Opoku-Bekoe, General Manager, Human Resources, CFAO Mobility Kenya, said the initiative will be crucial in transforming hand hygiene for learners in Kiambu County by addressing critical gaps in school hygiene infrastructure and promoting lasting behaviour change.
“Access to clean water and adequate hygiene facilities remains critical to creating healthy and supportive learning environments for children. However, many schools and communities continue to face challenges in accessing reliable water and hygiene services, increasing the risk of hygiene-related illnesses that can contribute to absenteeism and disruption of learning,” said Arvinder Reel.
Beyond infrastructure, the programme will strengthen hygiene knowledge and skills among teachers and school leaders, enabling them to champion good hygiene practices within their schools. Structured School Health Clubs will also provide a platform for learners to build and practise daily hand hygiene behaviours, helping turn knowledge into lasting habits.
Speaking at the launch, Njoki Mwaura, Chief Executive Officer, Goal Setters Foundation, said: “To ensure that the facilities and hygiene practices introduced through the programme are maintained and sustained beyond the life of the project, the initiative will promote community ownership by mobilising parents, school management and the wider community to participate in and support the initiative.”
According to UNICEF, as of 2020, three in ten people globally lacked access to a handwashing facility with water and soap. The simple act of washing hands can save lives and reduce illness by helping prevent the spread of infectious diseases caused by germs transmitted through the air or through contaminated surfaces and food.