New Beginnings in the Terai

BARDIYA, NEPAL

PHASE 1: SANITATION (20-TOILET PILOT PROJECT)

After conducting a preliminary survey in Bardiya in October 2011, we embarked on a 20-toilet pilot project in April 2012 to assess the community’s readiness and capacity for development projects. Before work started, we took time to explain to them our ethos for community development. Our belief of creating work for the people and not encouraging welfare was initially greeted with surprise and apprehension. But after several cups of tea, the community leaders seem to understand this point and appreciate the possibility that they are capable of effecting change in their own community without depending on funding from outsiders. It is a paradigm shift of mindsets.

A prototype toilet of the 2-pit pour flush system was constructed from 22-24 April 2012 in the home of a selected family. While we supplied them with bricks, concrete, sand, aggregate, toilet pan & pipes and the family co-paid for it by supplying the roof and door, taking care of the transport cost for the materials and the daily food and tea snacks for the masons. Within 3 days, the prototype was completed and a village meeting was held for 20 selected needy families, who were nominated by the elders of the village.

Prototype toilet in the making

The toilet pan has to be elevated in case of flash floods during the monsoon season

The completed prototype toilet

Families crowding around the prototype toilet trying to understand how it works as compared to the regular septic tank system

Village leader, Jeevan (in white cap and shirt) explaining to the people how the system works

Village meeting in progress

Jeevan explaining explaining the terms and conditions of how the project will be managed and the families’ involvement. 20 families were selected for this pilot project

3 of 20 happy family with their very first toilet in generations

The project started in May 2012 and was completed in July 2012.