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Dassa Family Latrine Project - Benin
Dassa-Zoumé is a burgeoning community located at the crossroads of Benin, in the region known as the Collines. Due to its unsurpassed beauty, ideal location, and availability of resources, population rates have been rapidly increasing, leading to overcrowding in poorer neighborhoods.
Nearly 3/4 of the 12 neighborhoods in Dassa have a shortage of latrines, while in 5 of these neighborhoods latrines are rare. Thus, public defecation is the norm in certain areas.
This project is to construct 25 pit latrines for low-income families in the community.
The project will serve 500 people.
The project is being carried out under the technical direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Brigitte Pohren, working in partnership with DCAM/Bethesda, a leading NGO for hygiene and sanitation in Benin.
Project funds will be used to purchase the materials. Labor and some materials, including sand, will be provided by the families that benefit from the project.
Participating families will begin by digging 1-meter-diameter holes, with a 4-meter target depth. A mason coordinating the project will purchase the supplies and oversee the digging of the pits. Cement bricks and cement covers will be made and put in place. Actual construction will be done by the team, moving from one neighborhood to the next.
Informational sessions are a part of the project, and will include the importance of using latrines, latrine maintenance, and proper handwashing practices.
The project offers a solution to the sanitation crisis plaguing certain zones of the community. The plan to install sanitary facilities was community initiated as a means to achieve better hygiene and a satisfactory standard of living. It will greatly contribute to the long-term health of the community and improvement in the living environment of the villagers.
The participation of Water Charity in this project has now been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
Any donations using the Donate button below will go toward additional water and sanitation projects in Benin.
Latrine Building Project – Benin
This is a project to construct eight family latrines in a rural community in Benin. It is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Dennis Chon, together with members of the community.
The construction will take place at Akodebakou (ah-ko-deh-bah-koo), a thirty minute bike ride from where Dennis lives. Latrines will be built in four neighborhoods.
The process was started with the designation of the families that will participate. A significant commitment was required of the families, which included not only a contribution of labor and materials, but also participation in health and hygiene instruction. Topics will include proper hygiene, the importance of latrines, and proper maintenance and usage.
Each family will provide the labor for the digging of the pits and other materials, such as stones and gravel, according to ability.
The construction technique incorporates concrete blocks, which will be made on-site, for use as inner walls within the pits. Two teams will work cementing concrete blocks and placing latrine covers on all latrines built.
Project funds from Water Charity and other participants will be used to pay for the water (for mixing cement), sand, gravel, and cement. In addition, it will pay for the masons, the transportation of a latrine/building specialist, and PVC pipe to help aerate the latrines.
Once the latrines are built, families will be required to create a “wall” structure for their latrine to provide privacy. Most likely this will consist of reeds and/or palm leaves thatched together.
It is estimated that the family latrines will serve more than 50 people. These beneficiaries would not otherwise have the means to build the latrines for themselves. The result will be a significant decrease in gastrointestinal disease in the community.
To indicate your desire for your contribution to be allocated toward this project, please click the Donate button below.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.
Family Latrines Project - Benin
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa, with Togo on the west, Nigeria on the east and Burkina Faso and Niger on the north. It has a short coastline on the south leading to the Bight of Benin.
About a third of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The main sources of income are subsistence agriculture and cotton.
Bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever are the primary food and waterborne diseases, and malaria and yellow fever are the primary vectorborne diseases in the country.
This project is to construct individual dry-pit latrines for families in the community. Each participant family will contribute the labor to build its own latrine.
The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer E. Grochal, together with community delegates.
Project funds from Water Charity and other participants will be used to purchase the materials.
Participants must take part in the accompanying educational component to increase their knowledge about health and hygiene, and thus ensure the success of the project in impacting upon disease.
To indicate your desire for your contribution to be allocated toward this project, please click the Donate button below.
This summer the Peace Corps community has an opportunity to be part of an extraordinary effort to improve our communities through volunteer service.
President Obama’s summer service initiative, United We Serve, is a call to all Americans to join a volunteer effort this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time. Please visit visit the