This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Charlene Hopkins. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build ten pit latrines in Saare Sadio.
Charlene reports:
This project proposed to build ten simple pit latrines in a rural village located 13 km southeast of Kounkane in the Kolda region, where 387 people live. The latrine platforms were designed to last 20 years.
Project materials, including 20 sacks of cement, 40 10 lengths of iron, 10 2 m lengths of 10 cm diameter PVC pipe, 1 m of mesh grillage, 2 kg of wire, and one 2 m by 10 cm board, were purchased and transported by village-owned charettes to Saare Sadio.
Holes 1 m by 1 m square, 2-3 m deep, were dug at ten households in the village by the families. Construction of latrines was done by masons Suba Diow and Yero Gano. Each of the families provided the sand, gravel, and water needed to mix the cement.
12 bars of antibacterial soap were purchased. Each family receiving a latrine was given a bar of soap and the other two bars were given away at the hand washing causerie. The hand washing and latrine collapse causeries were held, with 31 villagers (5 men: 26 women) as well as a bunch of children in attendance.
I also helped one of the families to make a hand washing station next to their latrine. Hopefully other families will also decide to make hand washing stations.
People are pleased with the new latrines, and seven out of ten families have already built enclosures around their new latrines.
We again wish to thank The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust for providing the funding for this project.
