The intention

The intention was to improve sanitation at a primary school in a rural community in Ghana, without running water, through the construction of a urinal (toilet block)

The approach

In consultation with the school management, it was investigated what the school children need most in terms of facilities. An overview was then made of the costs and benefits, money raised in the Netherlands for construction, the construction was completed with local workers and a mini-reportage prepared in which the result would be filmed, to increase transparency and support. The total cost of construction came to 1400 euro. With cheerful colors and the name of the western donors some weight was given to the building.

The result

When the camera team arrives in July 2008 turned out that the toilet block was not used: there was a lock on the door. After some investigation, it turned out that several visitors to the adjacent residential area used the privacy and hygiene offered by the toilet block not only for small but also for large errands. To stop the large influx from the residential area, the school placed a lock on the urinal.

The lessons

Before starting a project, the total package of facilities in an area must be looked at. This sometimes leads to an expensive intervention (in this case: a full toilet with excavated and walled pits) leads to a better result than just a urinal.

Author: Job Rijneveld

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