A visit to the VIP latrines

Yesterday was a milk and RVCP project day. In the morning Miriam took us to Jose's Milk House, where we had half a litre of milk and some Mandazi - a sweet fried dough. 

The mandazi was delicious but there was no way I could managed a half-litre of milk, especially when it was so creamy. It's definitely something I'm going to get used to though!

In the afternoon, Miri and I went with Paci from RVCP to visit a project run under RVCP's Hygiene programme. RVCP work in Mpungwe village to build Ventilated Improved Pit latrines (VIP latrines) for families who do not have a clean and safe latrine. This programme was started in response to a government programme which seeks to move Rwandans from remote rural areas into villages, where they can concentrate infrastructure and house construction, thus ensuring that most people have access to electricity and water.

This is part of the Rwandan government's Vision 2020 initiative, which was launched by Kagame in 2000. In short, it seeks to transform Rwanda into a middle-income country, and this is to be achieved by reducing poverty, increasing and improving education, good governance, efficient agriculture, improving health systems and creating a united Rwanda. The housing initiative was first started to provide houses for widows of the genocide in 1994, and is continuing under Vision 2020. Therefore, villages such as Mpungwe are growing fast.

The houses built by the government however do not have latrines, since it is expected that the residents themselves will construct their own latrine. However, most people lack the resources and skills necessary to do this, and so have very unsafe and unhygienic latrines. RVCP seeks to improve the health and hygiene of the villagers by buying and building long-lasting and sustainable deep pit latrines.

RVCP build 4 latrines a year in Mpungwe, and the project started in 2005. The latrines built in 2005 are still in use, so the latrines are a long-term solution to provide improved hygiene in the village. RVCP provide materials, labour and money to buy expert labour to dig the pits (which are 8 metres deep). RVCP volunteers also provide education about how to keep the latrines clean and hygienic, the importance of clean water, how to practice good hygiene and how livestock near the house can spread diseases.

Out of around 156 families in the area, 97 families currently benefit from a VIP latrine and RVCP is currently researching where to construct the next four latrines. In the future RVCP hopes to be able to teach the villagers with the capacity to do so how to construct their own safe latrine.

The village of Mpungwe is spread over a hill above a valley, and the scenery is incredible. Again, photos don't do it justice, especially with that annoying speck on my camera lens which I only noticed until I was at home and uploading the pictures. I'm really keen to do some trekking in this area, so we're planning a walk to Mount Huye in a few weekends time which will be amazing.

Interesting information about Vision 2020 is at http://www.rwandachamber.org/rwanda+vision+2020