Organization: Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland

The aim of the ZASP-program was to improve the weak condition of the sanitation in Kaloko and increase the welfare and hygiene knowledge of the people. This was done by building dry toilets and educating people about hygiene.

Kaloko is in North Zambia, in the Copperbelt-province, about 70 km south of Ndola. It has a surface area of about 260 km2 and its 11 villages are populated by about 10 000 people. The region has three bigger schools, a clinic, education center and several small village schools.

The aim of the ZASP-program was to improve the weak condition of the sanitation in Kaloko and increase the welfare and hygiene knowledge of the people. This was done by building dry toilets and educating people about hygiene.

Kaloko Trust Zambia worked as a local partner. It is estimated that around 60 percent of people in the region don´t have a toilet. Some of the schools don´t have toilets or they are in poor shape. Defecating on open ground or into water bodies can spread diseases and create good conditions for the spread of parasites.

The first target for toilets was the schools. Built toilets and hygiene education serve as an initial push towards hygienic toilet culture. The aim was to inspire people to build functional toilets for their families, and to increase use of toilet waste as fertilizer and therefore improve farming conditions.

A relevant part of the project was the creation of an action plan. Special attention was given to how the local culture planned the teaching and the toilets. It was also important to develop good procedures for building the toilets from local materials. Clear instructions were made for the maintenance of the toilets and the use of the end product.

Keywords: empowering communities, sanitation, water scarcity

Location: Zambia, Africa

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