The Latest at Connecting Countries:

1. June 2, 2014, 3:59 p.m. | By: andrew

   CCAAS Visits Ottawa... again!

   Two BOD members of CCAAS, John and Rob, traveled to Ottawa on May 23rd to meet with Charles Wachira, our Program Monitor. The 12 hour “not-so-limo” ride was worth it. We met Ruth, Charles' wife, who ran in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon and spent several hours and lunch at the Marriot Hotel talking ...

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2. May 18, 2014, 6:03 p.m. | By: andrew

   CCAAS Visits Ottawa... again

   CCAAS president John Smith will be visiting Ottawa again. Earlier this month, John presented at a donor school in our nation's capital. This time on May 23rd John will be meeting with Charles Wachira, our Kenyan Program Monitor. Charles just happens to be married to a marathon runner who is running ...

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3. May 16, 2014, 11:04 a.m. | By: andrew

   More Riverside photos!

   Progress is being made!...

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Sanitation Has Been Called "The Silent Emergency"

It has earned this unlikely title because even though diseases related to unsanitary conditions kill more children than HIV and Malaria combined, few people want to talk about the subject.

Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School became focused on the inadequate sanitation facilities in Kenyan primary schools simply by chance. In 2005 a Kenyan runner visiting Hamilton, Ontario Canada struck up a conversation with a local teacher that resulted in addresses being exchanged. During the 2005-2006 school year letters arrived at Glen Brae Middle School in Hamilton Ontario hand written by primary students attending schools in Ol Joro Orok, Central Kenya; the home area of the runner.

The Kenyan students surprisingly did not ask for new shoes, computers or clothing. Instead they asked for new toilets:

“We use latrines which even made us to have different kinds of diseases… we lost one of our school pupils who was ill because of going to such bad latrines.”

- Student, Kirima-Ngai Primary School, Ol Joro'orok, Kenya

“Our school has over 600 students we need about 16 more toilets.”

- Student, Madaraka Primary School, Ol Joro'orok, Kenya

Our Vision: CCAAS envisions- Quality Education for Kenyan Students

Our Mission: CCAAS is dedicated to Achieving Quality Education Through 3 Core Programs

• Pen Pal Letter Writing - Linking Canadian & Kenyan students
• WASH (Water, Saniation and Hygiene) - Improving Kenyan school facilities and student health program
• Continuing Support - Providing classroom instructional supplies & teaching aids

Four ways a toilet can change a child's life….

1. They can stay in school! When no separate sanitation facilities exist for boys and especially for maturing girls, embarrassment and anxiety result; school can be seen as a place to avoid – a safe and private toilet can change this!
2. They'll have better health! Withholding defecation or urination causes extreme discomfort, urinary tract infections and other gastro-intestinal problems – a safe and private toilet can change this!
3. They won't have to worry about their safety! When their only option is to relieve themselves in the open or under the cover of darkness they are more vulnerable to wild animal attack, poisonous insects and bodily assault – a safe and private toilet can change this!
4. They'll have the dignity they deserve! Without proper sanitation facilities children have no privacy, no sense of security, their self-respect is shaken - a safe and private toilet can change this!