Until 2016 the hygienic sanitation at the secondary Girls School in Kwale was not different from the average school in Kenya: Smelly latrines in combination with overflowing sceptic tanks causing urine and faeces leaking into the ground surface and polluting the ground water table.
In June 2016 the school started to implement the AAWS sanitation concept. In short this means that existing latrines are closed and that new –dry- closets are built. The excrements collected in these new dry toilets are mixed with carbon rich materials to take away smelly odours and dirty sights. The toilets are emptied on daily basis in a compost bin after which the toilets are cleaned and reinstalled.
Using this system delivers 100% clean toilets producing fertile compost within a year. The compost is 100% hygienic due to long lasting thermophile activity within the compost bin killing all dangerous bacteria, viruses, worms etc.
Since the Girls School is providing daily meals to the 800 students, and for that is dependent on the harvested crops in their gardens, the compost will be directly used to increase the fertility of the school gardens and boost the vegetable production for the school.
So we improved the latrine infrastructure at the school with simple means. New toilets were constructed and compost bins designed and installed.
Important final step then was to introduce the new system to the staff and pupils who, after hilarious moments, became fully involved and enthusiastic in the new approach.
The Girls School in Kwale is now the first school in Kenya -having closed its ‘sanitation cycle’ which results in drastically increasing hygiene, proper latrines and tons of fertile compost.
Also interested to improve hygiene at your school, closing the sanitation cycle and producing compost for your gardens ? Let us know!
