This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Casey Kittredge. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to construct three latrines for a school system in rural Guatemala.
Casey reports:
The Community of Cojxac came together to construct 3 latrines, using old 500 ml bottles, for the elementary, middle, and weekend middle school students. Each family that had at least one student in the elementary or middle school was asked to donate 5 stuffed (with inorganic trash) 500 ml bottles, 5 Quetzales and 1 day of work.
The 500 ml bottles were used instead of cement blocks for the walls of the latrine. The 5 Quetzales was used to pay for the Mason. The day of work included tasks such as stuffing bottles with trash, collecting and washing trash to be stuffed in the bottles, digging and constructing the wooden frame.
The construction of the latrines took a total of 14 days.
Casey expressed the gratitude of the community and the students:
The mayor of the town came to the inauguration where he told me that:
“The community of Cojxac and its students greatly appreciate the time and effort you and Water Charity have put forth in the construction of these latrines. If it weren’t for you, the school would be closed due to the health violations related to the previous latrines. Thank you”
We are grateful to Casey for completing this important project, which demonstrates a new technology that is extremely beneficial to the environment.
We again wish to thank The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust for providing the funding for this project.
