Building safer schools through disaster management in Timor-Leste
Students are thrilled to be able to wash their hands with safe water at school. IMAGE: Luis de Arujo/CARE International in Timor-Leste
Access to safe water is vital for every child. A lack of clean water at school for washing and drinking can drastically impact a child’s education and potentially obstruct their path to a healthy future.
In areas prone to extreme weather conditions, like in Timor-Leste, not having access to water at school can be life threatening. Edmundo da Silva is the coordinator at a school that is being supported through AHP’s Disaster READY program. He explained the dangers children and teachers faced before this Australian Government-funded support. “Water was previously accessed from a long distance and there was no toilet at the school,” he said. “This was very risky and dangerous for both students and teachers especially during the rainy season and strong winds. Previously students had to use bushes as a toilet and there is a risk that the trees might fall on them when there is strong wind. In the bushes, there is also no water accessible for washing hands, having a very negative impact on student and teacher health.”
School Coordinator Edmundo da Silva discusses the Water and Sanitation issues impacting children and teachers because his school is in a disaster-prone area. IMAGE: Luis de Araujo/CARE International in Timor-Leste
Edmundo’s school was identified as needing support via the Suco Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), an AHP initiative designed to help communities recognise risks, and develop locally driven Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness Plans that will ensure the safety of children and adults. The SDMC looked specifically at children's needs in relation to disaster risk reduction, gender, and disability inclusion, and identified the lack of water and toilet accessibility in this school as a particular challenge. So, with support from AHP Partner CARE International, community members began work in May to improve the school’s access to clean water. Together they installed water pipes connecting the school to local water sources, constructed a water tank, and built disability-friendly toilets for students — giving both children and teachers more time in the classroom.
Community members working together to construct school toilets for students and teachers. IMAGE: Luis de Araujo/CARE International in Timor-Leste
As the work was being completed, nine-year old student Antonio explained how school-life was already improving for him and his classmates. “We already have access to the water and will soon have nice toilets for girls and boys.” He said excitedly, “This water … is very helpful also because the school feeding program uses water for cooking our food and washing hands before cooking, preparing food and eating.”
This Disaster Management Committee project in Timor-Leste is a Disaster READY initiative supported by the Australian Government and implemented by CARE International.