Now we have a clean village
Farmer Shimels Arega lives in South Wollo Zone Worelu Woreda. He is a father of 3 children and leads his life through agriculture.
He and his family used to excrete less in toilet though they had had it. They were less experienced in using It. Hence, their village was spoiled. The field where the farmer’s kids play was spoiled by bad odder. The environmental problem had made them a victim for Trachoma and other germ cause disease especially women and children.
The villagers were eager to change the situation, but things were going as usual.
ORDA’s CBM Italy Project was launched in 2017 to carry out hygiene, sanitation, Trachoma control & prevention activities for 3 years ahead in their woreda.
Farmer Shimels got training from the project on how to have hygiene and to prevent trachoma disease. A better pit latrine has been built by the project. The farmer has been implementing the training he had gotten, and the family member is acting accordingly. All culture to wash their hand after toilet use.
In CBM Italy Project interventin areas of Amhara Region, South Wollo zone: Legheida, Woreilu and Jamma districts 3,151 households have constructed improved latrines.
Farmer Shimel’s village now is free from human excretion. He said, “we built a toilet years ago, but we did not use it. We were forced to do that from the government and it had punishment for not to do. We did not aware a consequence of excreting at the field. But, after we got training from CBM Italy project, we built an improved pit latrine, and now no one excretes an outside. Now we have a clean village. ”
Farmer Shimels’s Pit latrine has brought multi advantages. His toilet has been installed Biogas fermentation system that generates power for stove, light and Compost, Fertilizer. “ORDAS’s CBM Italy project in coordination with the Woreda Energy office has been installed a Biogas fermentation system, and I am getting power for a stove and lantern. As a result I can save my charcoal expense a range of Birr 500-1000 in the summer season. I also use the byproduct compost for my farming.” Other farmers have taken the experience, and they are applying the technology.