Help 23 needy families get sustainable livelihoods

Update on Roots Micro-enterprise

The boy’s wing Eco-san toilet was successfully completed at Olturoto Primary School and it was opened for the pupils to use during the reopening of the schools this year. This success was contributed by our partners from Wessex Social Ventures, the school and the community parents.

The Pupils were excited for the new toilet since it contributed to a safe discreet sanitary environment that will lead to a reduction in disease and improve learning.

We have started collecting the liquid products from the toilet that will be converted into Nitrogen fertilizer while the solid waste into phosphorus fertilizer. All the waste have been kept to the warehouse for it to convert into fertilizer. In two months period the first batch of fertilizer will be ready.

Herewith are a few pictures of the completed boy's wing toilet and its launch.

Petal (reusable sanitary towel) Progress

Education of good menstrual hygiene to the community has been given first priority by guardians with the help of the staff since it’s a powerful marketing tool which will help in spreading the word about petal product. We have continued doing this in schools, women groups, door to door and all the gathering of women and girls. Menstrual health education is very important for breaking down the stigma and myths.Herewith is health talk picture at one of the schools.

Right Light business Update

The Right Light Micro-Enterprise pilot has been a success since the set up. The setup of the solar system in the families has led to so many benefits and has been a big impact to us, the children and children families. Some of the impacts that the solar system has brought are as listed below.

• It has tackled the dangers of using kerosene and promoted health among the family members which was causing the respiratory diseases.
• It has improved education attainment since the children can study well using the light that cannot affect their eyes.
• It has reduced the risk of house fires which was rampant in the past due to using kerosene lamps which could fall on anything and caused fire.
• Increased food security in the families through earning some income from renting lamps and charging the phone batteries.
• Has enabled the reunification of the children and their families

• Reduced the light expenses and the money transferred to other house expenses instead
• Increased security among the family members and life stock.

We will keep on helping the guardians as much as possible and help them with other ideas to ensure the businesses are running and they are able to attain the income that will sustain them on their day to day running.

Petal (reusable towel) progress

On the successful training and commencement of the petal business, the guardians were able to carry on sales and majored on marketing and delivering education with the help of staff since education is the key marketing strategy for business and helps to break down stigma and myths around menstruation.

Marketing and education was carried out around schools, market places, dispensaries, Barazas and in women meetings. As education was passed on they were able to address the challenges women and young girls undergo.

Right Light Business Update

The Right Light business (solar system) was successfully set up in two guardians homes. The system has enabled the guardians start micro enterprise where they hire solar lamps and charge phones through the Right Light. The solar lamps are fully charged before hiring them, clients hire them each night and return them for charging every morning. Among the lamps we have three types, one that is just for light purposes and the other one is for light and has a charging system where phones can be charged and the third one is the one with light, charging system and radio.

The guardians will soon partner with some of the members in other communities to help them hire more lamps since people leave a quite a distance to guardians homes and picking and dropping the lamps becomes a challenge.

Roots Micro-Enterprise

In October 2019 the pilot for Roots (Ecosan Toilets) were set up in Olturoto Primary School one of the local school. The waste products from the toilet will be converted to fertilizers. Urine will be converted into Nitrogen fertilizer while faces into Phosphorus. All the waste will be kept in a warehouse for it to convert into fertilizer and it will take 2-3 month to convert.

Some of the reasons behind the Idea of Ecosan toilet are:-

• Produce fertilizer for sale that will create sustainable livelihood for the families
• Build hygienic and more permanent toilet than pit latrine
• Significantly co cheaper than over life cycle than pit latrine
• Educate the community on sanitation and personal hygiene
• Supply low cost and very effective fertilizer

Herewith are a few pictures of the boy's wing which will be completed before the schools reopens and the warehouse

Jua Maji Micro-Enterprise

The pilot set up of Jua Maji is ongoing at Olturoto children Village. The Jua Maji consist of a fish pond and water. The fish pond water will be distilled and water will be heated by the sun while the water vapour condenses against a tent which will be collected to a channeled tank. At the end of it we will have fish for sale and fresh water for drinking.

Herewith is the picture of Jua Maji showing work in progress