News from our volunteer in Mozambique

“At the moment we have a project in the Chibuto District, 60 km from Xai-Xai. The project is called Child-Friendly School for Africa, and AMURT is carrying out the social part (Community Participation and Education, Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion).

The project belongs to the Chibuto District Government and is funded by UNICEF. As part of this project, boreholes and improved latrines are being built at some schools in the district. The construction of the water boreholes and the latrines is the responsibility of two companies hired by the project owner.

AMURT, as the party responsible for the social area of the project, has to:

• Set up, for each water pump installed, the Water Committee and Maintenance Group, who are responsible for the proper use, sustainability and maintenance of the source;
• A Sanitation Nucleus in each school, made up of 15 pupils, which is responsible for promoting and maintaining hygiene and sanitation on the school grounds;
• In the other schools of the district we have to see whether these groups are working well and reactivate them if necessary.
• Check whether the water pumps that are not on school grounds are working well and whether they have a Water Committee and Maintenance Group.
• Promote hygiene and sanitation among the population of the district, namely the correct use of water, the construction of improved latrines, rubbish pits and dish racks (small tables, usually covered with zinc sheeting, for dishes)
• Construction of 6 Demonstration Centers of technological options for rural sanitation, one for each Administrative Post of the district. These centers will have 4 types of latrines, so that the population in general can learn about the various types of latrines that exist, sell slabs and blocks for latrines, masons trained in latrine construction and mechanics trained in repairing hand pumps, sell spare parts for hand pumps, and promote Water, Hygiene and Environmental Sanitation among the population.

The photographs I am sending are related to this project, with the exception of a few that are from a trip to Tete in the north of the country, where AMURT is finishing a project also in the social area in which latrines were built for the local population.”

Meeting to present the project and to form the Water Committee and Maintenance Group in some schools where water pumps will be installed. These groups are made up of people from the community and the school. We also set up the Sanitation Nucleus, made up of 15 pupils, which is responsible for promoting Sanitation and Hygiene at the school.

Classrooms of some of the schools where we are working.

Activists with their children.

A visit we made to accompany the company that is drilling the boreholes under this project. There is enormous satisfaction among the population at now having water closer to home.

Water pump and improved latrines built by the project.

Construction of slabs for latrines.

Demonstration center being built by AMURT. The project provides for the construction of one of these centers in each of the 6 administrative posts of the district where we are working. Each center will have several types of latrines, so that the population can learn about the various technologies that exist. Latrine slabs will also be sold at a reduced price, and there will be masons trained to build slabs and latrines, and mechanics trained to open the water pumps.

A visit we made, together with the Government and UNICEF, to some schools where improved latrines and water pumps are being built.

Meeting with the population and local authorities of the locality where a plot of land was donated to AMURT by the government. On this land the plan is to develop a diversified project with parts for education, agriculture, health, etc. We are waiting for a funder so that the project can begin.