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New Latrine for Sapeiman
World Class board member Susan Kraeger (left) addresses assembled local dignitaries
In September, Board members Susan
Kraeger and Judy Willsey visited Ghana where they inspected our existing
projects, commissioned the newest one,
and planned for
the next one. They found our facilities in good order and were impressed by the new latrine in Sapeiman. Like the previous one in Amasaman, it is a flush system comprised
of 12 units. With its completion, World Class made good on its promise to former loan clients that a well or latrine would be provided for each community in which they lived. The Sapeiman latrine was commissioned in a colorful ceremony complete with traditional drumming, libations, blessings, TV and print news coverage, and many, many speeches.
the next one. They found our facilities in good order and were impressed by the new latrine in Sapeiman. Like the previous one in Amasaman, it is a flush system comprised
of 12 units. With its completion, World Class made good on its promise to former loan clients that a well or latrine would be provided for each community in which they lived. The Sapeiman latrine was commissioned in a colorful ceremony complete with traditional drumming, libations, blessings, TV and print news coverage, and many, many speeches.
World Class Director, Rita Dzoagbe. presents keys to the chief
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| Standard facilities for the able |
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| Accommodation for the elderly and infirm |
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| Ewe chief, Nii Togbe, holds forth |
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| Pouring libations |
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| Small boys enthralled by the drums |
New Project for Chintu
Some time ago Chief Nana
Kofi Mankata II saw the World Class sign outside our new office in Fise and
came in to inquire what we did. Learning that we built community latrines, he
promptly requested one for his community, Chintu. The World Class team paid a visit there in
September. Located several miles north
of Amasaman, it is an appealing place up
in the hills, surrounded by greenery, and accessible by a surprisingly good
paved road. The morning of our visit, a
grey mist obscured the hillsides. Chintu
suffers from extreme poverty. It has no sanitation.
Accompanied by the chief, we wended our way to the site of the proposed latrine--
an open field with a worn path running down the middle of it. To our discomfiture and amusement, we found
that the new site is also the old site (hence the path). Chintu's school, too, lacks most every-thing,
including sanitation. Its headmaster, Mr. Victor Owusu, has made an enterprising
attempt at an open air urinal with privacy walls made of woven fronds. No one uses the open pit for defecation due
to the complete lack of privacy. Clearly, Chintu could use our help.
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| Proposed site of Chintu's new latrine |
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| Open air urinal at the Chintu school |
New Technology
World Class is proud of the
three latrines it has built, but
recognizes the problems associated with them.
Flies and odor are associated with the waterless composting type and
conventional flush facilities use a lot of water. Cost is significant for both. The project in
Chintu will rely on a different system which, hopefully, will better address
these concerns.
The Rural Poor Microflush
Toilet (RPFT) is the invention of Steve Mecca, a retired science professor
associated with Providence College in Rhode Island. He designed a unique valve
for flushing (a kind of flap) which separates the toilet from the rest of the
system, eliminating odor and flies. It's
operated by a lever near the base of the toilet.
The RPFT is a flush system which uses a cupful of water per use and is sourced from the gray water from hand-washing. This compares to the bucketful required at facilities like those recently built in Amasaman and Sapeiman. The septic pit is individual to each unit and much less deep than that of more conventional systems. A process in which worms and microorganisms convert waste to odorless compost creates a product ready for agricultural use. This technology is adaptable to community or individual household use and is based on materials produced in Ghana.
Through the networking and
familial connections which so often play a major role in
work in the developing world, Board member Susan Kraeger knows both Mr. Mecca and the young contractor, Sammie Gyaba, whose company, SamAlex Sanitation Solutions, is promoting the use of the RPFT. Sammie recently won Ghana's prestigious Game Changer Award (a national competition for ideas/endeavors which will advance Ghanaian society) for his advocacy of the system. World Class has a dual ambition in its Chintu project-- to provide sanitation for the community and to help kick-start this young entrepreneurial effort. There are no sure things in Ghana, but World Class is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for this new technology.
work in the developing world, Board member Susan Kraeger knows both Mr. Mecca and the young contractor, Sammie Gyaba, whose company, SamAlex Sanitation Solutions, is promoting the use of the RPFT. Sammie recently won Ghana's prestigious Game Changer Award (a national competition for ideas/endeavors which will advance Ghanaian society) for his advocacy of the system. World Class has a dual ambition in its Chintu project-- to provide sanitation for the community and to help kick-start this young entrepreneurial effort. There are no sure things in Ghana, but World Class is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for this new technology.
They Need You! Nothing Happens Without You!
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| Children at the Chintu school |
Support a New Latrine for Chintu!
Send your check to World
Class PO Box 325 La Grangeville, NY 12540
Thank You!
