Before Joan stepped into her new life at Olemedeye Secondary School, she carried something powerful with her: everything she had experienced at Marurani Primary School. The comfort, safety, dignity, and support she received there shaped the confidence she carries with her today.
Moving to secondary school
When she left Marurani, she expected the transition to be smooth. She was excited for a new school, new friends, and the chance to keep learning, well, higher learning. But very quickly, she began to notice the difference. She realised how much her environment at Marurani had shaped the way she learned, felt and understood school life.
One of the very first things she noticed was the change in her learning environment.
“At Marurani, our classrooms were nice because they were renovated. The blackboards were new, smooth and clean. Here, sometimes, when it rains, the roofs leak and we resort to studying under trees when the situation in class becomes unbearable,” Joan shared.
The difference was clear and it made her appreciate even more her experience at Marurani Primary.
Water at school
Water was another big difference.
Due to the land’s dry rocky conditions, people have had to depend on underground water that is pumped through boreholes, which has a salty taste and can affect health. With the installation of rain water tanks at Marurani Primary School, fresh water is collected from the roofs through gutters and stored.
“We had several tanks at Marurani near our classes. Now the water here is salty, and sometimes there’s none at all. We carry bottles from home, but they don’t last the whole day,” she said.
Such a contrast reminds her of how easy it was to stay hydrated, clean and comfortable back in primary school.
Privacy and dignity for girls
For her, what she misses most is the sense of comfort and dignity, especially for girls.
“I was already used to the girls’ private room at Marurani. We could change in private during our menstruation period, and the materials were there. But here, there is no such thing as a girls’ changing room, even getting water is hard.”
These details had once made a big difference. They had taught her what a safe, supportive learning environment feels like and how it changes a child’s views of education.
What changed at Marurani Primary School
At Marurani Primary, transformation meant more than just new structures. Through our projects, supported by our partners, Made With Hope, the school now has girls’ toilets, which include a private room for managing menstrual hygiene, a handwashing station in place, and 10 rainwater harvesting tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 litres. 9 classrooms have been renovated, and 4 others have been newly constructed to make learning more comfortable for more than 430 students.
These changes helped increase the performance rate from 70% to 83%, especially among girls, and created a culture of cleanliness and care that continues to inspire students like Joan, even after they’ve moved on.
Because when a school is transformed, its impact doesn’t stop at the gate. It follows every child who passes through its doors, shaping how they see themselves, how they learn, and how they begin their next chapter.
How you can help
Joan’s story is not unique.
Many students continue to learn in environments that make education harder than it should be. Your support can help create safer, more conducive learning spaces where children can focus on learning and not on the challenges around them.
Learn more about our work or donate to help transform another child’s school experience.