Water collection for the school

  • Location: Tanaff, Sédhiou Region, Senegal
  • Theme: School water supply
  • Technology: 2,000-liter plastic tanks on iron structures
  • Beneficiaries: Approximately 1,500 students
  • Status: Completed September 2022
  • Partners: Municipality of Tanaff, Tanaff High School, Synergie Plus

In Tanaff, a key town in the Sédhiou region, stands the only high school in the area, attended by students from dozens of rural villages, some over 15 km away. Despite its crucial role, the school suffers from severe infrastructure shortages, including limited access to water. The municipal water supply operates only for a few hours in the morning, leaving 1,500 students without water to drink, wash, and maintain proper hygiene.

Existing old tanks, damaged or insufficient, were unable to ensure daily autonomy. To meet this need, Balouo Salo installed a system of two 2,000-liter tanks on iron structures designed to use gravity for distribution. A school committee fills them daily during the early hours, ensuring water availability throughout the school day.

The project helps improve hygiene conditions, reduces health risks, and protects students’ right to education by providing a safer and more dignified environment. This is another step in Balouo Salo’s journey to promote sustainable development through water.

Project objectives water storage tanks at Tanaff High School

Objectives: ensuring water, health, and dignity

Continuous supply

Thanks to the 5,000-liter daily capacity, the tanks guarantee the high school’s water autonomy, even when the municipal network is inactive.

Health and hygiene for students

Available water allows students to maintain personal hygiene, preventing infections and diseases linked to poor cleanliness.

Protection of children’s rights

Access to water improves school conditions and safeguards the right to education and health, helping to create equal opportunities.

The project

Water storage tanks at Tanaff High School - Balouo Salo School structure and tanks in Tanaff

We are in Tanaff, a strategic town in southern Senegal hosting the only high school in a vast area populated by dozens of rural villages. The school welcomes about 1,500 students daily, many of whom travel several kilometers to attend. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure and limited access to water make it difficult to ensure dignified hygiene conditions during school hours.

The local water network is active only a few hours per day, and the old storage tanks at the school were damaged or insufficient. Our intervention involved donating and installing two new 2,000-liter tanks, placed on a raised iron structure to leverage hydraulic height and allow effective water distribution throughout the day.

A dedicated committee fills the tanks every morning, thus ensuring water availability for the entire school day. This simple yet essential intervention provides students with water to drink and for personal hygiene, reducing the risk of diseases and improving overall sanitary and school conditions.

The project was realized thanks to support from private donors, fundraising events, and 5x1000 contributions, in collaboration with the Municipality and High School of Tanaff, and with the technical support of partner Synergie Plus.

Where it is located

Where

Tanaff High School
Municipality of Tanaff
Sédhiou Region
Senegal, Africa