Women only eco-sanitation, washing and bathing complex.
Location
This women's complex provides toilet, clothes washing and bathing facilities providing better health and a small micro-finance opportunity.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Your idea
Field of Work
Hygiene
Year the initative began (yyyy)
2007
YouTube Upload
Web site (url)
Positioning of your initiative on the mosaic diagram:
Which of these barriers is the primary focus of your work?
Limited focus on long-term impact
Which of the principles is the primary focus of your work?
Move people up the sanitation ladder
If you believe some other barrier or principle should be included in the mosaic, please describe it and how it would affect the positioning of your initiative in the mosaic
The principle 'moving people up the sanitation ladder' could be misleading, as it gives the perception that this is just another step. However, this particular project is a solution in its own right.
Name Your Project
Women only eco-sanitation, washing and bathing complex.
Describe Your Idea
This women's complex provides toilet, clothes washing and bathing facilities providing better health and a small micro-finance opportunity.
Innovation
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence?
This women's complex provides toilet, clothes washing and bathing facilities providing better health and a small micro-finance opportunity.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field?
At its heart, the complex is an eco-sanitation toilet. It is a community driven project and the lessons learned by its presence and the training that has been given have helped increase hygiene awareness and has already had a major impact on the intestinal and general health of the participants. The facilities will be provide security for women whose only option was open defecation, putting them at risk of attack or rape, or even scorpion, snake and spider bite/sting. It incorporates an area for clothes washing and another area for bathing – both in absolute privacy. There are toilet and basin facilities specially for children. The uniqueness of this design means it is aesthetically pleasing to look at, and where no water is present it can function as efficiently as where water is abundant. It has an expected lifetime in excess of twenty five years and is 100% self-sufficient, sustainable and eco-friendly.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing?
New complexes can be built in a variety of sizes accommodating both rural, semi urban and urban communities. The current model is for women only, but can be built, and slightly modified, for male use. New complexes are built after consultation with the local community and the creation of or involvement by community self help groups. These self help groups then become the focal point for site identification, construction, maintenance and general running of the complex.
How do you plan to expand your innovation?
Each complex is a stand alone unit. We already have a long list of communities that wish to have such a facility built ready for their use. Once a community understands the concept, and generally sees one in operation, the actual expansion is simple because it is a total win-win situation.
Do you have any existing partnerships, and if so, how do you create them?
Currently we work in three areas of India, [close to] Cuddalore, Pune and Rajkot. In each area we have existing partners with which we have worked and with which we plan to expand our existing base of beneficiary communities. WTN India is also in the process of being formed and will seek out other partners as we have the resources to move into new areas. Our team on the ground have extensive experience in watsan and a wide and diverse range of contacts.
Impact
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact.
The reduction in illness caused by open defecation and general hygiene and the subsequent security benefits by having a stand alone complex.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact?
How many people have you served or plan to serve?
WTN has built numerous eco-sanitation facilities in India serving thousands of people. The current women only eco-sanitation complex is designed to cater to the needs of 350 women and children. There is no end to the number of people who could benefit.
Directly
350.
Indirectly
350 (male members of the family)
Please list any other measures of the impact of your innovation?
There are two additional benefits. The first is that each complex is constructed using compressed earth blocks (CEBs), which are a mixture of sand, earth, gravel and a small amount of lime, and are totally environmentally friendly. The manufacture of CEBs lead to a manufacturing livelihood opportunity. Secondly, there are micro-finance opportunities for women using the facilities that collect recycled items that are 'bought' and added to a savings scheme.
Is there a policy intervention element to your innovation, if so please describe?
This is a women's empowerment project and the involvement of self help groups is vital to the project's success, both in the pre-build, build and long term.
Exactly who are the beneficiaries of your innovation?
Communities of low status who have no access to sanitation facilities, especially women.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)?
Private donors, corporations. Government finance being sought.
Provide information on your finances and organization:
Last posted income circa $1,000,000.
What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Incalculable. Every community that sees a complex, wants one.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability?
None in the complex itself, but the overall project needs ongoing finance to construct as many as possible.
The Story
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story.
WTN has been involved in sanitation for several years and in 2006 decided that all of its facilities would be eco-friendly. It had worked on several eco-sanitation projects including composting and bio-gas. It constructed several facilities in schools that produced remarkable results among the girls, who informed they would virtually have one week per month off school while they were menstruating because of the lack of facilities, and when they did attend had to 'hold it' all day because toilet facilities were poor or non-existent. The success of these led us to look at women's issues in general, especially security, and how we could develop a complex that was eco-friendly and sustainable, while still meeting all of the needs of women. After careful consultation with several SHGs, the current design was decided upon and during the build improved.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material
Wherever the Need became a charity in 1998 when it was delivering aid to refugees from the conflict in The Balkans. In 2000 it started to work with children infected or affected by HIV/AIDs, but realised that polluted water was the biggest killer. It switched its work to the provision of water and subsequently sanitation, and in 2006 wrote a strategy document committing itself to providing services that were of benefit to communities and not damaging to the environment.
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Comments
A sister program to Changemakers, Citizen Base, has a case study you might find interesting as you design your financial model. I think there is potential for you to leverage different parts of the community and partners to design a vibrant cash flow.
DMT Toilets
Hi David,
You certainly are doing some very interesting work. Your imagination and commitment of the group with whom you are working is inspirational. The importance of basic sanitation cannot be under-estimated and the programs which you are advancing are important for their beneficial results.
There are at least three other "entrants" with similar ideas and goals and I hope you will all be able to find ways to exchange ideas, provide support, and to facilitate improved sanitation.
I wish you the very best.
Brian