Concerned Hearts Foundation, WEFTA Improve WASH Access for Pupils at Volta School
Pupils and staff of Mafi Afleavenu D.A. Primary School in the Central Tongu District of Ghana’s Volta Region now have improved access to safe water and sanitation following the completion and handover of a new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project.
The intervention was delivered by Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana in partnership with Water Engineers for the Americas and Africa (WEFTA), a US-based non-governmental organisation, with support from members of the Mafi Afleavenu community.
Implemented under the theme “Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation for Quality Education in Ghana,” the project includes a rainwater harvesting system with poly tanks and toilet facilities designed to address longstanding WASH challenges at the school.
For a school serving a deprived community, the intervention goes beyond infrastructure. Reliable access to water and appropriate sanitation can have a direct bearing on pupils’ health, dignity, attendance and ability to participate fully in school activities.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Emmanuel Kwadzo Amezah, Executive Director of Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana, said the project was initiated after the Foundation identified the school’s critical water and sanitation needs.
He said the Foundation recognised that creating a conducive learning environment requires more than classrooms and teaching materials.
“Access to basic water and sanitation is closely connected to public health and quality education, particularly in underserved communities.”
According to Amezah, the Foundation, established in 2023, has focused on promoting girl-child education, supporting vulnerable women, providing teaching and learning materials to underserved communities and schools, and advocating against child marriage.
The organisation has since expanded its work into WASH interventions, recognising the role that basic infrastructure plays in enabling children to learn in safer and healthier environments.
The project was made possible through funding from WEFTA after Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana approached the organisation for support following its assessment of the school’s needs.
Amezah expressed appreciation to WEFTA for funding the intervention and to the Mafi Afleavenu community for contributing to the successful completion of the project.
The completed facilities have been formally handed over to the school’s Headteacher, School Management Committee (SMC) and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for use and management.
Students, teachers and school authorities have also committed to protecting and maintaining the facilities to ensure they continue serving the school and wider community.
Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana will conduct regular monitoring visits to assess the condition, functionality and use of the facilities, while providing WEFTA with updates on the project’s impact and any emerging needs.
Tim Wellman, Executive Director of WEFTA, said the organisation was pleased to partner with Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana on the intervention, noting that safe drinking water and decent sanitation were fundamental to children’s health, dignity and educational development.
He stressed that the long-term success of the project would depend on the commitment of the school and community to maintaining the facilities and keeping them functional.
Traditional leaders and members of the Mafi Afleavenu community welcomed the intervention, describing it as an important step towards resolving the school’s longstanding water and sanitation challenges.
They pledged to work with the school authorities to protect and maintain the facilities so that they remain available to pupils and staff for years to come.
For the pupils of Mafi Afleavenu D.A. Primary School, the new facilities represent more than tanks and toilets. They provide some of the basic conditions children need to stay healthy, remain in school and learn with dignity.
The project also demonstrates how partnerships between local organisations, international development partners and communities can help address practical barriers to education in underserved communities.
About Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana
Concerned Hearts Foundation Ghana is a development organisation established in 2023 working to promote girl-child education, support vulnerable women and children, provide educational resources to underserved communities and schools, advocate against child marriage, and increasingly support WASH interventions in deprived communities.
