At Kebena Primary School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13-year-old Mazaa is known for her bright smile and curious mind. She lives with her parents and two siblings and loves solving math problems – especially the ones that make her think a little harder.

When she’s not studying, Mazaa helps her mother with chores around the house. But her favorite way to spend time is by listening to music and singing along, something that brings her joy no matter how long the day has been.

Beyond her studies and her love of music, Mazaa is a leader. She’s a member of her school’s Hygiene Club, where students share what they’ve learned about handwashing, clean water, and menstrual health with their classmates. For her, it’s about helping everyone feel confident and healthy at school.

Before Splash: A School Without Safe Water

Until recently, Kebena Primary didn’t have the basic resources students needed to stay healthy and focused.

“The stations were not differentiated for drinking and handwashing,” Mazaa explains. Students drank untreated water, which was only available on Mondays and Tuesdays. “Sometimes, students went to class without drinking during break time.”

With limited access to clean water, students waited in long lines for a single working tap. Many missed lessons. Some spent the school day thirsty. And without soap or safe spaces, hygiene and confidence suffered – especially for girls.

After Splash: A Transformation on Campus

Today, Kebena Primary looks completely different.

Clean water now flows daily through multiple taps across campus, shortening lines and increasing time for learning. There’s soap at every handwashing station and clear separation between drinking and washing areas, a simple change that makes a big difference in health and learning.

Mazaa says the most important lesson she’s learned is the “importance of keeping our hands clean.” She and her classmates now take pride in maintaining hygiene every day, and that knowledge spreads fast through the Hygiene Club she helps lead.

Confidence, Dignity, and New Understanding

For Mazaa, one of the biggest changes hasn’t just been about water, but about confidence.

“When I learned about menstrual hygiene, I understood that it is something that I should not be ashamed of,” she says.

Through Hygiene Club discussions, she and her peers have helped shift how students think about menstruation at school.

“Previously, boy students made fun of girls,” Mazaa remembers. “But after the training, students started to have knowledge about menstruation, and some started supporting girls.”

Now, she’s helping to lead a cultural shift toward empathy and understanding, one conversation at a time.

Dreams for the Future

Mazaa’s leadership shines through everything she does. Whether she’s explaining hygiene practices, helping a classmate, or speaking with confidence about her dreams, she carries herself with pride and hope.

“I want to represent my country and show that dreams can be achievable,” she says.

For her, the improvements at Kebena Primary are about more than clean water. They’re about what comes next: the possibilities that open up when students can focus on learning, friendship, and their own potential.

Because for kids like Mazaa, clean water isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning.

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