St Marcellin Higher Secondary school, Mangamanuthu, India
Safe drinking water and better sanitation can help transform lives in the world’s poorest communities and are essential to helping families break the cycle of poverty.
“The impact of lack of access to clean water and safe sanitation is perhaps greatest on women and girls. Clean water and safe sanitation underpin almost everything else we are trying to achieve. Investing in community-based sanitation and hygiene programs is one of the most effective ways to improve the health, self-esteem, education prospects for girls and women.”
Minister For Foreign Affairs – Hon Julie Bishop MP, Address to the 10th Anniversary of WaterAid Australia 25 March 2015
Saint Marcellin Higher Secondary School is situated in the very poor village of Mangamanuthu in Southern India. Most families living in this area are referred to as Dalits, or ‘untouchables’—the lowest caste of India’s outdated caste system. The school’s population has grown rapidly since it first opened its doors to secondary students in 2002. It now caters for 836 secondary students, almost half of which are girls. Due to the rapid growth of the schoo, three female toilets are insufficient for the current needs of the students.
Now, thanks to the generous support of the staff at Sacred Heart College Adelaide and those who supported the mid-year India appeal, the school has been able to commence works on a new 83-square metre female amenities block, which will provide 32 individual cubicles and significantly improve standards of health and hygiene at the school.
While every school supports and promotes sanitation and hygiene to the students through the curriculum, it is essential that the students are also provided basic sanitary facilities such as toilets, safe drinking water and clean surroundings.