Blue Schools Programme

Basic components :

A Rainwater Harvesting installation, based on an appropriate technology, can enable schools to have access to water. When requested, the collected rainwater can be treated in order to be used as clean drinking water.

Adequate sanitation is introduced in the schools. This enables the children to use hygienic toilets and will prevent the pollution of the groundwater. VIP double pit latrines are used in some projects, dry EcoSan type toilets or an alternative treatment of waste water in others. This enables the ecological treatment of human waste.

Children are trained to use the new facilities and the basics of healthy sanitation. They also learn about the water cycle, the economic use of water, the treatment of the waste water and environmental protection. Equipped with this new knowledge, they become active participants in the fight against the global warming.

Children make their first steps in effective waste management. They sort out recyclable waste, use organic waste for composting and keep the school campus clean.

Children take part in reforestation campaigns. They learn about local tree species, plant a tree or help to take care of trees in a park around the school campus. Thus, each child will have his/her own tree and will be responsible for it. The children are introduced to gardening. They start working in the Blue Schools vegetable garden and learn to share the fruits and vegetables they produce.

The Blue Schools programme envisages training courses in which the children learn to respect each other’s differences and put into practice the art of dialoguing to overcome disagreements.

Optional components :

For schools which are not connected to the national electrical grid, environmentally friendly solar energy equipment may be installed. A solar oven may be built in the school canteen, encouraging local communities to start using solar ovens too.

The initiation to computer literacy with the consequential supply of computers to schools forms another optional element of the programme. It will offer easy communication amongst Blue Schools in the whole world. It will enable the children to have access to the knowledge of other cultures, to form a friendly networking and to develop brotherly affection amidst distant boys and girls. It will eventually open the possibility to reinforce their job offering.

The IRHA Secretariat, based in Geneva, is the founder of the Blue Schools programme. Its team handles the project formulation, fundraising, project implementation and evaluation including financial reports for donors.

A national or regional NGO formulates a request for collaboration. It pays close attention to the local needs and presents information on the economic and social conditions of the community/country in question.

It is responsible for:

- Producing a participatory assessment on the project site.

- Organizing an awareness campaign of the Blue Schools programme targeted to the authorities and beneficiaries.

- Preparing the local budget and deadline.

- Management of the activities and the local budget.

- Reporting to the IRHA the progress of the project activities.

The children, teachers and school staff members are the direct beneficiaries of the programme. The parents also benefit from the knowledge passed on by their children. Villagers, communities and local authorities, all benefit from the positive environmental impact and the improvement brought by rainwater management in schools. They will be encouraged to collect rainwater for their own use.

Most of the technologies applied and the new skills are easily transferable. The example of a Blue School could also be replicated in other regions.

A financial backing is necessary for each project of the Blue Schools programme. As these projects are based on simple and cost effective technologies, they require modest investment yet bring considerable benefits.

The projects involve a huge number of people and pass new skills from one child to the other, from children to families, from one school to another. Its economic effect is unquestionable, thanks to the reduced health budget, the decrease absenteeism from school and the increasing number of girls attending school.

Supporting the Blue Schools programme contributes to the implementation of the Millennium Goals. The programme facilitates primary education for all and ensures a sustainable environment for children’s schooling with basic sanitation and water available for utility. Moreover, it offers the tools to fight global warming and helps to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Read our implemented projects