Engineers Without Borders in Ukunda: School sanitation with UDDTs

By Julia Seitz (GIZ).  Information provided by Stefan Miethig from Engineers Without Boarders (stefan.miethig@gmx.de).

A school sanitation project in the DARAD education centre in Ukunda, a small town south of Mombasa, is currently conducted by Engineers Without Borders, RG Aachen, from Germany with the support of local stakeholders. The centre hosts about 180 pupils from surrounding areas and consists of a kindergarten, a school, and an adults learning programme. Since the centre is constantly expanding, especially sanitation facilities are short in number. For about 200 people, only four pit latrines have been provided, which are also a threat for the ground water. Therefore, under the school sanitation project, 4 urine diversion dehydration toilets (UDDTs) for girls, 3 UDDTs for boys + three urinals, and one Wonderloo (single vault UDDT) for persons with disabilities are currently built.

Getting started. The foundation wall is being constructed.

Now, since the construction is almost completed, some difficulties such as receiving the official building license quickly sink into oblivion. Construction time has been calculated with four weeks and the building process has successfully been supported by parents, who firstly have been gaining hands-on experience during the construction process and secondly receive a reduction of tuition fees which they have to pay for their children. On top, they get paid a small amount. The construction itself has been done with eco bricks (a mixture of clay and cement, fabricated by the Diani Brick Company), a decision made by the Board of Governors to make the eco spirit perfect. Steel doors are used and anal washing space within the toilet cabins as well as bathing facilities are provided.

UDDT house under construction. Right of the stairs will be the toilet for persons with disabilities.

Back side view of the UDDT house, where the faeces vaults can be seen.

Capacity building, one of the most important aspects in such a project, has strongly been emphasised. During construction, parents could learn a lot about the advantages of UDDTs. Pupils are taught in class about the link between sanitation, hygiene, and health. In addition, a trip to the Ministry of Agriculture was arranged for them to point out the link between the reuse of UDDT end-products and agriculture. A Kick-off event has also taken place very recently for teachers to exchange their knowledge on UDDTs and sanitation. All in all, it seems that the sanitation project will soon be successfully completed.

Pupils and parents learning about the concept of UDDTs.

Learning about sanitation with Wycliffe Osumba.

More information (in German) with many pictures that illustrate the project can be found on:

http://www.ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org/de/Regionalgruppen-Kompetenzgruppen/Aachen/Kenia-Blog  

http://www.ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org/de/Projekte/Aktuelle-Projekte/Schultoilettenbau-in-Ukunda  

Local contacts:
Director Allan Maleya 0720258510
Headmaster Teacher George 0728340257
Constructor Daniel Kitonga 0723760429

Consultant Wycliffe Osumba Tel  0712930516, 0753643348,
osumbawycliffe@yahoo.com



Location of Ukunda (click on map)

Initial model drawing of the UDDT house (from 2010). On the right one can see the access to the toilet for persons with disabilities.



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Using Urine from UDDT as fertilizer

A farmer in the picture has been using urine from last year February as fertilizer on his farm. This was after a training I conducted in this area in Bungoma on Ecosan Toilets. He claims that urine has changed his way of life for better for ever. Urine has had positive results with Bananas, Onions, Nappier grass, Coffee and Mangoes. The quality of Nappier grass has improved and the rate of growth increased. During the time of drought, he only needs some little amount of water to dilute the urine and then pours the mixture to the cut nappier stems. He says that this is best done in the morning or late evening to minimise on smell of urine. Once the urine is applied, it only takes 4-5 weeks for Nappier to be ready again for cutting. They are very green with broad leaves. Urine is only used after 14days storage in the toilet. His farm has become a learning centre for many other people who are very interested in the UDDT. Some have already started constructing the toilet at their own cost.

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Chief Mutsembi Ecosan Primary School Project

By Moses Wakala, ecosan expert and entrepreneur (wakala.gtz@gmail.com)

Construction of new UDDT facilities was stopped due to lack of funds.
A continuation is envisaged with new funding from Western Water Company.

Chief Mutsembi Primary school located in Kakamega town experiences very poor sanitation with only six pit latrines serving a population of 700 pupils and 15 teachers. The situation is bad that female teachers share the latrine with the pupils (Girls). The school with most pupils from the neighbouring slums overpopulated area is squized with small land and this has caused serious health hazard to the water spring down the school. This protected spring serves the whole community. However, due to lack of space and planning, it is being polluted by the latrines in the school. The only option is now to have better facilities which cant pollute the water body. The school is threatened with clossure if they can't do better sanitation facilities. I visited the school and gave them this ecosan option. Funds were to be got from Constituent development fund. However from last year, the funds have delayed. We begun the construction but stopped due to lack of money. Now, i have gotten in touch with Western Water Company which also deals with Sanitation in the area. They have an on-going project with sanitation option in school and they have agreed to finance the project to completion with four units UDDT and urinal. This is great news for the school.

An earlier post had already described the school situation. Please read here:
http://ecosankenya.blogspot.com/2011/01/chief-mutsembi-primary-school-project.html

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