Day 4 – Nyarunazi
Today we visit the school in Nyarunaz where the aqueduct has arrived and test the functionality of the fountains!
Day 5 – Butezi
We woke up at 6.30 and despite the heavy rain we managed to reach Butezi to meet the local community.
The weather is changing and the rainy season is coming back. It is an extra effort for us to have to work under the strong gusts of tropical storms, among mud and slippery roads, but for the population it is a ” gift from heaven” .
And this expression is accompanied by pure joy because here the rain has not fallen since April.
The permanent secretary of the municipal administrator participates in the meeting with the community and this presence is very important for us: collaborating with the authorities and making them participate is our insurance for the future sustainability of the projects.
Day 6 – Nombe School
Of the many meetings and visits, Nombe school is my absolute favorite place. There are always so many children welcoming us, smiling and playing.
This time they are very surprised to see me arrive with a completely white baby, but after an initial moment of hesitation they immediately begin to play pranks: they caress our skin to check if our color can also be felt to the touch . They touch our hair to discover its softness and consistency and then grimaces, suppressed laughter and outbursts of laughter.
We came here today to check the condition of the drinking fountains that – thanks to the 25 km aqueduct built with the support of the project Water source of life and development – we built right in front of the school.
Today these allow 720 students to have drinking water available and not have to go to the river to fill the tanks before class, an activity that always led them to be late for school and, above all, to be very tired during class; so much so that many fell asleep in class or had learning difficulties.
Day 7 – Nombe School
The novelty this year at the Nombe school are the ecological latrines that were built in the last months. With the collaboration of the local partner SOPRAD we have built two blocks of five latrines each. Inside each latrine there are three rooms:
one for collecting urine and two for feces, which are used alternately. This is because once the solid matter collection compartment is filled, it is closed for three months and then treated with ash.
After this period, the material can be used as agricultural fertilizer . In the meantime, students can use the second compartment. Liquid organic material is instead collected in bins that, once full, are closed for a month before it can also be reused in agriculture.
Eco-latrines are our – and their – small contribution to environmental sustainability.
In the coming months, training will be started for students and teachers on the maintenance of latrines and the good management of the organic material produced.
