More Women Train in Latrine Construction

WATSAN (1996)
In: Watsannews, vol.2, no. 3&4, p. 10

Women are becoming more involved in the hardware aspects of RWSS projects in the Akatsi and Sogakope districts of the Volta region, Africa. In August, 1996, four women from the engineering department of the University of Science and Technology came to the project for a six week practical attachment spending most of their time in the field like their male counterparts. Also, more women are now undergoing training in various technologies for latrine construction including KVIP latrines. In 1996, five women among a host of men, in both Akatsi and Sogakope districts, received artisan training. This was the first time that women were being trained in KVIP construction on the project. In Sogakope, trainees were introduced to such new topics as social marketing in household latrine construction and characteristics of entrepreneurs as well as the standard user and health and hygiene education. At the end of their training, artisans were advised to be innovative, to be leaders in health and hygiene education in their communities, to form cooperatives to seek assistance from the district assembly, and not to overcharge thereby discouraging people from applying for the project's assistance package for latrines. Artisans were asked to adhere to specifications in latrine construction given them in training. Handwashing facilities were distributed to beneficiary households as part of a new way of promoting household latrines.