Wednesday, June 10, 2009

ECOTOX

Ecosanitation - Just a Better Livelihood or Something More?

Ecosanitation has been making big steps during the last two years in the Republic of Moldova. From the beginning, the concept of ecological sanitation was brought in Moldova by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and in time Women of Europe for a Common Future joined by supporting two Moldovan non-governmental organizations, one of them being ECOTOX, in the promotion of ecosanitation in rural areas. The ECOTOX project Better Livelihoods and Health Conditions for Rural Moldova through the community empowerment started in 2008 and it has been designed for 3 years. This project, which is implemented in Criscauti village, situated in the northern part of the country, meets together environmental, social and cultural aspects.

Only during the year of 2008, it was managed to build an ecosan toilet for the village kindergarten, which allowed the improving of sanitary conditions in this public institution, and three household ecosan toilets. An innovation can only be widely implemented if it is accepted by the public. For this reason, ECOTOX project is accompanied by educational activities, which include even some demonstrational studies. For example, in order to promote water pollution control, the actual state of wells in the village was investigated and their main pollution sources were identified. The population was involved in this water quality assessment and the results regarding the current situation of wells and sanitation in the village were presented to the local authorities. As a result, some householders cleaned up their wells and the district council allotted necessary funds for the construction of a new well at the local kindergarten.

The construction of a new toilet and well at the kindergarten played a big demonstrational role, and the works were continued by changing the kindergarten windows, with the financial support of the local council (approximately 4500 Euro), making possible the energy saving during the cold season. In addition, with ECOTOX support, a letter-project to the central authorities was prepared and the Government took the decision to finance the repair of the kindergarten roof (approximately 15000 Euro).

In this way, the experience acquired in this first year of the undergoing project has showen the big potential of ecological sanitation not only towards the achievement of a better livelihood and health conditions, but towards the strengthening of the local community.

We would like to add that during this short period, ECOTOX managed to gain the support of all the local community and, especially, the sympathy of the kindergarten children, who called ECOTOX members in a very respectful manner - “the educators from Chisinau”.

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