The Dimming Reality: Water and Light Scarcity in Female Hostels

 

By ARIKANKI Esther 

Imagine getting back to your hostel after a stressful day, only to find the major necessities, water and light out of reach. For many students in Queens Hall, this has become their reality. 

As the sun sets over the campus, the challenges faced by female students in hostels become all too visible. With water and electricity shortages becoming a regular occurrence, the impact on their daily lives is disheartening.

The lack of consistent access to clean water and reliable electricity has become a daily hurdle. Students often find themselves waiting in long lines for their turn at Block taps. A process that can consume valuable time that could otherwise be spent studying and participating in extracurricular activities or even keeping up with their 8:00 am class. Sometimes, we spend hours just trying to fill our buckets. Praise, a 200-level student shares that “By the time I’m done, I feel exhausted and tired, and it becomes stressful to meet up with my morning class so in the long run, I decided not to attend it”. 

The challenges extend beyond mere inconvenience, without sufficient light for studying at night or water for basic hygiene, students can struggle to maintain their grades. Students whose study patterns engage them at night and therefore cease to be involved in TDB are also known as till daybreak. “When there is no electricity, I can’t even charge my phone, let alone study at night” expresses Fathia, a 100-level student. “It creates a lot of stress, and sometimes I worry that I won't be prepared although I jot things down. There is no light to read what has been jotted". 

The emotional impact of living in such conditions cannot be overlooked. The uncertainty of when resources will be available can lead to anxiety and frustration. Many students report feeling isolated and unsupported in their struggles, expressing feelings of stress and helplessness. “It’s like we’re constantly fighting against something we can’t control,” laments Aisha, a first-year student. “I’ve had days where I just break down because it feels like everything is against us. We deserve to live in an environment that supports our education". 

The absence of water for personal hygiene has led some students to adopt unhygienic habits. The delay in washing clothes, skipping baths, and even reducing the frequency of cooking due to dirty dishes are coping mechanisms born out of necessity. “Sometimes I cook just once a day because there’s no water to wash my dishes or prepare meals,” admits one anonymous student. Such practices not only compromise personal hygiene but also pose significant health risks over time.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, the resilience of these students shines through. Many have banded together to create solutions, however temporary, to mitigate the effects of water and light shortages. Study groups organized during daylight hours allow students to maximize available resources. Similarly, some have adopted proactive measures, like fetching water the day before to ensure their routines are not disrupted.

“I fetch my water a day ahead, so my morning routine is not interrupted,” explains Tolu, a 400-level student. Her approach reflects the determination many students must overcome these adversities, even when the odds seem stacked against them.

The scarcity of water and light in female hostels is more than just an inconvenience; it is not only a significant barrier to education but also to hygiene and mental health. As these students continue to navigate their challenges, they also seek effective ways to adapt to these scarcities, therefore putting in place coping mechanisms like planning ahead as Tolu did.