It’s probably only people over 55, like me, who remember going to the “outhouse” behind the house somewhere to be relieved of the byproducts of the work of healthy kidneys and bowels! However, today’s generation is more familiar with the “Johnny-on-the-Spot” that are found on construction sites or fairgrounds.

However, today’s generation is more familiar with the “Johnny-on-the-Spot” that are found on construction sites or fairgrounds. For many in rural Cambodia, the use of an outhouse—or “latrine” as they are more commonly known in Cambodia—is a non-essential, a luxury for the well-to-do.

We’ve been working hard with our partners to change that, but it’s not that easy to convince people of the importance of a latrine. Even when offered at highly subsidized sale prices, it’s a challenge to convince rural community people to build one.

My staff and the visitors who travel with us may find it funny that we involve them in spotting latrines as we drive through rural villages. In a village with fifty or so families living along the road as we pass through, we may count only two or three families who have what appears to be a good, serviceable latrine with walls, a roof, and a door.

You may be wondering what people do when they have to go if there is no latrine. Well, you soon find out when you have to go: people will point you to the smelly area in the yard designated for that purpose – usually behind some bushes and shrubs where they’ve dug a shallow pit or trench over which you squat. (Bring along your own paper or the water they provide.)

Another thing to note is that chickens, ducks and dogs also run free in the same yard—especially the chickens, who are always on the hunt for the protein that insects and grubs offer. Now simply visualize the connection of flies and chickens with dirty feet sharing the same yard with children running barefoot and eating their food nearby. It doesn’t take much to understand why the children are often ill with diarrhea.

Many sanitation and health experts contend that the cost for a family to invest in a latrine could be recovered simply by applying the savings that a family would experience if the practice of open defecation could be stopped and the homestead cleaned up. This is what we promote and explain to the people in the communities where World Renew works.

Recently, we met with staff from International Development Enterprises (IDE) in Cambodia to facilitate greater cooperation to promote their latrines in the villages we work in . IDE has a program to select, train, and support local contractors who are authorized to fabricate IDE’s own latrine design. It’s one of the best designs we know of. It is these latrines that we want to promote through a subsidy program. (You may have seen the latrines in the 2012-13 World Renew Gift Catalog). We asked IDE what works to promote latrine use and encourage families to sign up for a latrine. As we promote the program, we are working to convince villagers of the health benefits and the projected savings in medicines that latrine use can bring. We also offer families a break on the cost through the subsidy and even help them make financial arrangements or encourage credit through their savings group. The people at IDE told us that these are important reasons to talk about in communities, but they were not the most successful ways to encourage latrine adoption and use. Interestingly, IDE tells us the best promoters of latrines are the young women who have come to work in Phnom Penh in the garment industry.

Turns out that these young women became very appreciative of using private facilities while staying and working in Phnom Penh, to the point where they dreaded going back to their village homes. One of the biggest reasons: no private toilets or bathing. Many daughters reported something like this to their parents: “So Dad, you would like me to come home to visit? Well I would like to, but would you please build a proper latrine that has a water bin inside and a proper area for private bathing – then I would be happy to come home to visit!”

Next time you visit your bathroom with all its indoor plumbing and space that is typically at least twice as big as the latrines we promote, think of the thousands of Cambodian households who don’t understand or even appreciate their importance for good health and sanitation.

Thank you for your support of World Renew in Cambodia, where we really try to get people to use latrines!!

Prayer items:
Thanksgiving:

• Rains are continuing . They started more than two months late in some areas of Cambodia, but there is hope that the yield losses will be less than projected.
• Visitors who come and encourage us
• Continued faithful support through you, enabling our programs to continue and we pray , to grow!
   

Supplication

• For local partner OREDA in change in leadership during a time of possible crop failure due to late rains
• For the new local church partners who are starting up community development work in the communities surrounding their congregations
• For drafting a new 5 year plan with Mission Alliance of Norway and the next 3 year plan with the Foods Resource Bank (a key partner in helping our farmers diversify)

Blessings,
 

Rick DeGraaf

Country Consultant
World Renew Cambodia