Following a successful pilot project of 2 schools in 2018, the Swiss Red Cross and Abundant Water partnered in 2019 to deliver water filter sets and WASH training to a further 13 schools in Phonexay and Pakseng districts, Luang Prabang province.

Since the installation of Abundant Water’s filter sets in each of the schools, thousands of students have been regularly accessing clean water whilst receiving their education.

To gain an insight into the project’s success, the Swiss Red Cross has been conducting monitoring and evaluation regularly throughout the project and their Endline findings have just been released!

The Abundant Water team is very happy to announce that this project has exceeded our partner’s expectations, with 5815 students now drinking more water at school, having greater access to safe water and practicing more hygienic behaviour!

The following graph and excerpt is from the Swiss Red Cross’ findings based on data collected at different stages of the project.

‘All schools had some students practicing correct use of recommended water treatment at baseline. However, only 47% of students reported drinking water during school hours; 28% of those students got that drinking water from school (14% of total sample); and only 48% of those students (7% of total sample) drank treated water which they got from school (boiled or bottled). By midterm, 2 of 10 schools had received water filters, and all 10 schools had received some hygiene education, resulting in an increase in those behaviours to 67%, 44% and 76%, respectively. By the end of 2019, all schools had received both water filters and education, which further increased those positive behaviours to 91%, 87% and 96%.’

‘Safe handling practices also increased significantly from 13% to 47% between baseline and midterm, and further to 83% by the end of 2019. Analysis was based on correct adoption of all 4 of the following observed practices: Water was taken from the storage unit using a vessel; the vessel appeared clean; the vessel was cleaned at least 1 time per day; the vessel was stored safely. The largest deficits found were lack of cleanliness of the vessels and improper storage of vessels, which mostly related to instances where students used their own cups or bottles from their dormitories, rather than cups in the classroom or at the water point’.

The Abundant Water team is so proud of what our partnerships have achieved to enact long-lasting change in areas like Luang Prabang province. We’d also like to thank the Swiss Red Cross for their fantastic partnership throughout this time and we hope to work with them again in the future!