LATRINE ARTISAN TRAINING, MANKESSIM PROGRAM AREA-PLAN GHANA

As part of the program (Development of Comprehensive Capacity in Sanitation in PLAN Program Area), community-based artisans from 44 communities in the Mankessim Program area under the project were supported to acquire skills and knowledge to undertake the construction and promotion of household latrines, handwashing facilities and refuse and waste-water facilities in their communities. The artisans were trained in aspects of hygiene education and entrepreneurial skills to enable them undertake the promotion of latrines, handwashing, refuse and waste-water management facilities and in the construction of these facilities for both schools and households.

The main aim of this assignment was to operationalise this policy of holistic development of sanitation at the community level within the 4 Programme areas of the Organisation namely – Asesewa, Bawjiase, Mankessim and Tumu.

The assignment was executed within the period of January to July, 2006.

Objective of Assignment

The assignment sought to upgrade/develop the skills of selected local artisans to enable them have the capacity to promote the demand for and assist in the construction and proper use of hygienic household latrines, hand-washing, wastewater and refuse management facilities.

Approaches Adopted.

To achieve the stated objective, TREND employed various approaches aimed at enhancing better understanding of activities in the project. Various sanitation and hygiene training manuals and handouts were developed and utilized during the training.

Artisans were also provided with latrine moulds/templates for construction after the project was over so as to ensure that the demonstration project is scaled-up in and out of the program area. There were both classroom and practical sessions, two complementary approaches used to boost trainees’ appreciation of the lessons they were taken through.

TREND had to also use various proven and tested participatory approaches like interactive lectures, buzz groups, case-studies and role plays. Others include brainstorming, group discussions and questions and answers. These approaches helped to livened the training sessions and kept participants fully focused and concentrated on the lessons.

One of the paramount issues the consultant considers as a key to sustainability of the facilities constructed is user education. It therefore left nothing to chance and ensured that both households and institutions were taken through this education thoroughly.

Technologies and New Innovations

Good sanitation, both the ‘hardware’ (latrines) and ‘software’ (hygiene promotion) is the requirement needed to break or reduce the route of faeco-oral transmission of diseases. Excreta disposal technologies with the right components were chosen to break this route. Among such technologies included Ventilated Improved Pit latrines (VIPs).

Different types of this technology used at the household level and at institutions (schools) were piloted at the demonstration sites in the two communities. They included rectangular slab VIP, Mozambique slab VIP and the Kumasi ventilated improved pit (KVIP) latrines.

For the first time ever, the Girl-Friendly KVIP was piloted in Ghana. This type has all the components of VIPs but with additional features of a urinal and a wash/dressing room for the purpose of gender. These were incorporated into the design to meet the ever increasing challenges of the growing girl child as she enters into the period of puberty. The provision of these would forestall the situation where the growing girl-child in schools had to always go home whenever they menstruate. It was envisaged that by adopting this technological design, it will be helping to accelerate more gains in education as far as the MDG on education is concerned. Student enrolment as well as academic brilliance would increase tremendously since truancy will be a thing of the past.

TREND also relied on its rich experience in sanitation and hygiene, and incorporated into the design handwashing and waste management facilities since it is fully aware that latrines alone would not be able to break the disease transmission route.

The last feature in the design was the incorporation of rainwater harvesting system to catch water for use both in the dry and rainy seasons in Ghana.

Success Lessons

TREND appreciates and considers it worthy to share the various approaches which contributed to the success of the project even though they have been used timelessly. The approaches include but not limited to the following:

Conclusion

Capacity development is about change and change never comes easy especially if it is attached to a short term project. The consultant therefore designed an elaborate follow-up support program and has since embarked upon it. The objective of this was to build the confidence of the artisans in utilizing the skills and knowledge tapped during the training workshop in a more professional manner.

Author: Prince Antwi-Agyei