This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Eddie Carver. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build a set of composting latrines to be used by patients, health workers, nurses, and the doctor at the clinic.
Eddie reports:
I am writing to let you know that we have completed the latrine project in Tsivangiana, on the east coast of Madagascar.
Our carpenter, Donat, lives just a few hundred yards from the medical clinic where the latrine was built. His work was absolutely meticulous from start to finish and I plan to work with him again in the future.
The majority of the money and effort went into building a permanent concrete tank and slabs for the ground floor level. It is a dry pit that does not penetrate the water table. The tank has a volume of more than 8 cubic meters (it’s 2.75 m deep, 2.25 m long, and 1.3 m wide). It was sealed with pine planks and reinforced with iron bars.
Once the concrete had dried, the pine planks were removed, to be saved for the next latrine project. We used bamboo shoots for ventilation. There are two latrines, separated by a divider made from Traveler’s Palm, which go into the same tank.
Due to community contributions of certain materials, we were able to finish this project under budget, so we have some funds left over for our next such project.
Although the construction of the latrine has been completed, we have not yet officially opened it. Next month we will have a little ceremony and use the opportunity to teach local children the importance of using latrines.
We are grateful to Eddie for completing this excellent project, and again extend our thanks to his friends and family for providing the funding, plus additional money to be used for future projects in Madagascar.
