HUYE – The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has donated and installed 14 water tanks worth over Rwf 50 million in 14 schools across the country.
The beneficiaries include four primary schools and ten secondary schools.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, at Groupe Scolaire des Parents in Huye, Rachel Tushabe, REMA’s official in-charge of environmental education and mainstreaming, said the donation was in response to requests made by environmental clubs in the recipient schools.

"After receiving requests from active environmental clubs, REMA designed a project proposal to supply water tanks to schools and submitted it to different sponsors.

Fortunately, we got the support from UNICEF and MTN to buy 28 water tanks that we gave to 14 schools,” Tushabe said.

Representatives from different schools, who attended the ceremony, said the water tanks have played a great role in maintaining hygiene.

"Since the school acquired two water tanks, the cost of acquiring water has considerably reduced, hygiene has improved, environmental activities and agriculture also developed.

We have planted trees in the school garden and we can irrigate the school’s farms,” said Eduard Habimana, from College St Marie Kibuye in Karongi District.

Chantal Mukagatera, a student at Groupe Scolaire des Parents in Huye said they have now succesfully managed to grow trees in the school compound.

"We also had a tree nursery but our seedlings  were drying due to water scarcity. However, since we got the water tanks all activities are going on well.”

Tushabe called upon all directors of schools to give priority to environment management in their respective schools, which she said is the leading pillar of sustainable development.

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