EcoLatrines for 20 Bolivian Families

A single woman named Ancelma lives with her son Cristian, 13 years old.  She works for the municipality sweeping the streets (a very low job in this town). Ancelma does not speak Spanish, rather she speaks only Quechua but understands a little Spanish so her son has to do all the translating so that we may reach our objectives. Although she does not speak the language the workshops are taught in she comes and seems to get the jist of the program. As she had no man in her life she helped unload all her gravel and sand with Cristian one Saturday. It took them the better part of a day and every trip she made to get another wheel barrow full she said “ Kansacjhu” which in Quechua means “oh my goodness this is really tiring work"  

Reina has lived in the community of La Reforma since she was 13 years old. She is now married and lives with her husband and 4 (soon to be 5) children.  She attended all of the Etta Projects workshops about sanitation and hygiene, and now religiously separates her trash and sold all of her feral pigs after learning about the dangers of domestic animals running around her living space. She is so interested in doing all she can to help her family live a healthier life. She is a great example of how a little education can change the future for a family.

When Etta Projects started building eco-latrines in her community she signed up and began saving the money for her share because after the workshops she understood how it would change their lives.   She also knew this was something she could do for herself, her family and her community. She wanted to be one of the first of 30 families in her community to build. Because of her continued participation and motivation, her family completed their latrine first!

“Oh man, my pit latrine is gross- it is filled with maggots and I lost at least 5 little chicks in there.  They go to try to find food and tragically fall in and drown!  What a way to go.  Everyone hated walking on the little street behind my house because of the smells from my pit latrine and the house across the way.  The stench attacked the passerby’s from both sides!  Now there will be no smell to be embarrassed by!” 

“This latrine is a lot of help to my family.  They always wanted a more dignified latrine, but more important than the physical building; this gives people who may not have completed their schooling, like me, a chance to learn about health and sanitation. I have already started building my shower, and when I have money I want to put a wood door on the bathroom and paint it”.

Although in the US we take our bathroom for granted, in Bolivia it is a source of pride and a change in the health of the entire family, the community and a few chicks.