.jpg)
Nicaraguan Toilet Block Project
The Nicaragua project, announced in July, was a successful joint Rotary venture. On October 29,2012, Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise member Malcolm Kennedy led a team to Nicaragua to oversee and work on an Elementary School toilet block project. The team of 12 consists of six from the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise, and six from the Rotary Club of Kamloops West. In addition to the toilet block project, the team members assisted with Art, English, and Sewing classes at the local school. As well, they served food at the local food kitchen.
While the majority of the funds raised in the community by the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise normally go directly back into our local community, we are proud of our International work. It takes a small amount of funds to make a huge difference to those less fortunate in other parts of the world. The toilet block project costs $4,300; Rotary International Foundation provides a grant of $2,500 towards the project which results in a net cost, to our club, of under $2,000.
The objective of the project is to improve sanitation and health for 150 students and six staff at the Salomon Elementary School, Community of Padre Ramos, near Chinandega, Nicaragua The school accommodates students from kindergarten through to grade six. The local community population is about 1,500.
The pit toilets the children currently use are constantly full, the roof leaks, the walls are falling down, and the doors are broken. There is no facility for hand washing. The poor sanitation and hygiene conditions adversely affect the health of the students and teaching staff. The project will install flush toilets, complete with hand washing facilities all connected to a self cleaning septic system.
All the materials and fixtures will be purchased locally. To support the local work force, local labour will be used exclusively. Once completed the local community will take ownership. The maintenance and service will be done by the community, teachers and students.
The toilet block will include flush toilets to a self cleaning septic system. The system will have three chambers; 1. Solids; 2. Fermentation; 3. Gray Water; and filters out to a lava rock field. The system is approved by the health department as effective and safe.
Funding for maintenance and any future repairs will come from local businesses, the Department of Education and the City of El Viejo. New sanitation will give back the students their dignity and instill a sense of pride, providing them with hope.
It will not be all work, as the group will be staying at Monty’s Beach Lodge, built by a Canadian school teacher as a rustic hideaway on an amazing surf beach.
