The aim of our project is to provide access to toilets in small communities in Seghe and the surrounding villages.
At Seghe Primary School, the school toilet (pictured), is the only toilet for over 120 school students and staff. This toilet is over the lagoon which is often used for swimming and fishing. Our project for 2019 involves building a set of new toilets at Seghe Primary School, whilst liaising with the community to determine other locations within the community for improving access to toilets. |
Why focus on sanitation and hygiene?
Giving people access to basic sanitation and good hygiene is important for a number of reasons:
•Ongoing health – Many of the ailments and diseases spread in these areas could be minimised by access to proper and ongoing access to adequate hygiene and sanitation solutions.
•School attendance – Many schools have no toilet facilities. Some schools require students to still ‘go bush’ if they need to use the toilet. Once students are out of the classroom, this often means they do not return for the day.
•Safety – Students who are required to ‘go bush’ to use the toilet are often scared because they are at risk to predators who may abuse them. By providing clean, accessible toilets within sight of the school, we are maximising student safety.
•Community Focused – By focusing on sanitation and hygiene we are not limiting our focus to one section of the community, but focusing on an issue that will benefit the wider community.
•Ownership - Again, this is an area that benefits the whole community. We aim to upskill and train local people to lead in this area within their own community, so that we are helping communities to help themselves.
•Ongoing health – Many of the ailments and diseases spread in these areas could be minimised by access to proper and ongoing access to adequate hygiene and sanitation solutions.
•School attendance – Many schools have no toilet facilities. Some schools require students to still ‘go bush’ if they need to use the toilet. Once students are out of the classroom, this often means they do not return for the day.
•Safety – Students who are required to ‘go bush’ to use the toilet are often scared because they are at risk to predators who may abuse them. By providing clean, accessible toilets within sight of the school, we are maximising student safety.
•Community Focused – By focusing on sanitation and hygiene we are not limiting our focus to one section of the community, but focusing on an issue that will benefit the wider community.
•Ownership - Again, this is an area that benefits the whole community. We aim to upskill and train local people to lead in this area within their own community, so that we are helping communities to help themselves.
2019 Plan Overview
After discussions with the Principal of Seghe Primary School in 2018, we decided that a fantastic starting point would be to build 2 toilets at this local school. The school is on a thoroughfare between the market and the hospital and so engages a lot of community members both involved in the school, and those walking past. This will give us a starting point to commence the second part of our plan in terms of community consultation and ascertaining how we can provide a sustainable project over the coming years that will encourage local people to take ownership of projects such as these to benefit their own communities.