Imagine, if you will, that you have a morning routine of
taking a nice stroll into the quiet coffee forests, finding a peaceful place
and dropping timber (number 2) and then some foreigner comes in and tells you
that’s not okay, for multiple obvious reasons to her. And now she’s telling you
to go into a building to do your morning relief practices (number 2), where
other people may be waiting to do the same thing, and this just seems absurd
because, wait, “everyone shits (takes a number two) in the same hole?”
Building latrines is a feat but thanks to some wonderful
people in the States we have been able to do it, thank you all again for your
contribution. Now it’s time to fill you all in on what my end of the deal
was/is through this short yet sweet blog post.
The community health workers and I have been working hard on
our end, because the people in my community are used to going out into the
forest to shit (number two) so getting them to use the latrines is a bit tricky.
So, you can imagine how much energy my community health
workers and I have put forth to educate and “sensitize” the community on the
importance of using these new places. And so, with many meetings and trainings and just some casual
chit chat at markets, churches, schools and other public gathering places, I am
happy to say that this very peculiar way of living is now happening right here
in Vohitrindry.
(Another blog post to come on our WASH parties)
After trainings
with Welt Hunger Hilfe and community health workers from other locations we
have had a successful construction of 26 individual latrines, and have fixed 16
existing latrines at 4 elementary schools in the area. I’m proud to know that I
will be remembered as the foreigner that really “liked” to talk about shit,
where to do it, how to do it, and maybe even talk about some shitting
complications you may be having. Because hey, that’s my job here, and with these
latrines fillin’ up, it feels oh so good to take a stroll through the woods and
not to worry about stepping in shit.
Community members building a latrine during practicum.
Finished product!!
While squatting, people can read how and when to wash your hands! Educate yourself, at all moments.
Community health worker loving the new latrine.
WHH Technician checking out the finished latrine. 
The finished his and her latrine :)
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