Results achieved as of the end of the project include: WaterCan and its eight local partner organizations were successful in providing access, in an environmentally sustainable and gender responsive manner, to clean water, improved sanitation facilities and hygiene education for about 52,600 people, of whom 49% were women (31,5% more than originally planned). The East Africa Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program constructed 158 water supply systems (piped water schemes, protected springs, rain water tanks, hand dug wells, boreholes, public stand pipe and community laundry basins/bathing stalls) and 275 sanitation facilities (community latrine blocks, school latrine blocks, urinal, handwashing basins) in 135 communities and 27 schools. Many facilities also catered the needs of people with disabilities by constructing one cubicle in each latrine block with more square footage, a ramp, handrails and elevated pedestrals. Over 1,300 individual (43% women) for 162 community and school committees, were trained in operation and maintenance of the facilities. All eight partner organizations strengthened their capacity to plan, implement and monitor WASH programs in rural and peri-urban areas, and successfully promoted best practices to policy makers and practitioners working in the sector. WaterCan and its partners participated in two international WASH-related forums (the Water, Engineering and Development Centre’s International Conference and the Rural Water Supply Network), four regional meetings, several technical workshops and contributed to national-level policy forums in their respective countries. With respect to the public engagement in Canada component, WaterCan reached thousands of Canadians through its website, Water Drops newsletters, speaking tours with partners' representatives, a growing network of WaterCan's university and school clubs, and a photo exhibit displayed in 25 different locations throughout Canada. Canadians are now aware of the important water and sanitation issues relevant to poor rural and urban communities and schools in developing countries.
