Bathroom Construction Project

Theory of Change

Through a phased multi-year construction project, Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa built a public bathrooms system, consisting of family bathrooms and a community bathroom, serving over 2,000 Maasai community members in order to reduce the transmission of water-borne and fecal-borne illnesses in Tindigani.

Tindigani is the most remote and impoverished of our partner communities; there is no access to public electricity or sanitation services. In 2021, Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa’s chief engineer, Justin Mtunga, described visiting homes throughout Tindigani and observed widespread fecal matter in walkways. He’d have to wear knee high rubber boots to walk through the fecal matter and saw serious concern for the future health of the community given the impending rainy season. Through the Fall 2021 Stunting Prevention Program, it was learned that community members do not have access to toilet paper and instead use stones or dirt after defecation.

The long-term goal is to transition these communities to using bathroom facilities, creating a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

Goals of Family Bathroom Construction

1. Reduce incidence of water and fecal-borne disease, as well as incidence of dehydration.

2. Provide a phased transition to an aboveground leach pit bathroom system from open defecation.

3. Increase education on hand-washing and other hygiene techniques.

4. Provide the community with the necessary tools to maintain facilities.

Goals of Community Bathroom Construction

1. Reduce incidence of water and fecal-borne disease, as well as incidence of dehydration.

2. Provide a phased transition to an aboveground leach pit bathroom system from open defecation.

3. Increase education on hand-washing and other hygiene techniques.

4. Provide the community with the necessary tools to maintain facilities.

5. Use a narrative-based survey system to assess community needs, improvements, and potential challenges at every stage.

Funding

In July 2021, a donor generously funded the entire project, totaling $140,000, in individual yearly donations over a period of four years. We are incredibly thankful for this generosity and the opportunity to work with our Maasai partners to improve public health over the next few years.