Location
Mizilo, Madagascar
Community Description
The community is a rural commune 30 km outside of Manakara in Madagascar. The residents are extremely motivated to improve their health but have limited resources.
There are currently only 12 latrines in the community, most of which are private or full. This means that most people use the forest as their bathroom.
The rivers that are used to get water for bathing, cooking, and drinking are contaminated by runoff. Diarrhea is one of the major diseases that affects the community, accounting for the most deaths in children under 5.
Project Description
This project is to build 50 latrines in 34 villages in Mizilo. One latrine will be built in each village and the remaining latrines will be built in communal locations, including the market and various schools.
The latrines will be basic pit latrines with 3 walls, a door, and a roof. The latrines will all have sanitary platforms (SanPlats) with covers. The pits will be dug to a depth of between 3 and 4 meters.
The project will start with a series of trainings by the two directors of the city center’s community health organization. The trainings will involve going out to the different villages and teaching the individuals by demonstrating how to dig the hole, and the important information that goes along with latrine construction. This includes how far away from the water and food sources the latrines should be built, and how to properly cover the latrines when they have reached capacity.
The community members will also be educated about basic water hygiene and sanitation. They will also be taught to make the SanPlats by a local community member.
Water Charity funds will go towards the materials to build the latrines. These includes wood siding, nails, roofing materials, support beams and cement for the SanPlats.
Each community or family receiving a latrine will have to make a contribution. Possible contributions could include roofing materials, labor, or SanPlats.
Upon completion of the latrine training and construction, the community will undergo a training about why it is important to use latrines and to maintain them properly. The communities will also undergo financial trainings, teaching them how to save money for repairs and additional construction.
Project Impact
5000 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Brittany Bemis
Comments
This project accomplishes a tremendous amount with a small financial investment because of the widespread support of the community and the extensive use of community labor.
There will be demonstrable reduction of disease resulting from the protection of the waterway, upon which the people depend for their daily needs, from pollution from fecal material.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
This project became infeasible before implementation without expenditure of funds. The donation from The Elmo Foundation has been re-allocated to another project.