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APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY IN THE
EASTERN HIGHLANDS
Toilets - not the most romantic illustration of
appropriate technology, but one of its most valuable applications.
That's the view of Steve Layton, co-director of ATprojects which
recently became one of VSA's newest partners.
Based in Goroka, in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, ATprojects is a local NGO working with district and provincial government, churches and rural communities throughout the Eastern Highlands. It aims to enable rural people to use locally-sourced, appropriate technologies and materials which give them more control over their lives and help their communities' sustainable development.
Says Steve Layton: "Appropriate technology is a way of thinking about change, and of recognising that technologies can evolve along different paths towards different ends. We believe rural communities can have a hand in deciding what their future will be like, and that the choice of technologies is an important part of technologies is an important part of this."
Steve and his wife Miriam, a PNG national, established ATprojects three years ago. The range of projects undertaken since is wide. They include the development of water supply systems to remote villages; a women's nursery project; and training assistance to people wanting to establish small-scale village-based bakeries. ATprojects also undertakes consultancy work, and has several income-generating ventures, such as sales of their own "Tuffa" water tanks
ATprojects is also in the process of building an appropriate
technology centre at Mt Gahavisuka. One of the few facilities of its
kind in the world, the centre showcases materials and technologies
that are simple, affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally
friendly - everything from bridges and water tanks to school
desks.
The VSA Connection
Steve Layton brims with enthusiasm as he describes how
school children and teachers throughout the Eastern Highlands are
getting behind one of ATprojects' latest initiatives - a schools
water supply education project, aimed at achieving lasting
improvements in health and hygiene at community schools.
It's to support this initiative that VSA has placed a plumber, Geoff Halsall, with ATprojects in Goroka. Geoff and his wife Julie, formerly of Whangamata, took up their assignment in July.
Steve Layton says the project Geoff is working on address a range of related problems affecting schools - a lack of safe drinking water, inadequate toilet facilities, and the need for more education about health and hygiene. The projects is in two stages, with improving the water supply the water supply the first priority.
"Most schools in the "Eastern Highlands have little or no access at all to safe water," Steve explains. "Students collect their own water from nearby springs or streams, which are often polluted or dry due to droughts. School closures because of a lack of safe drinking water for students are not uncommon."
In 1998, ATprojects began a project to install water tanks at each of the 16 community schools throughout Daulo District. ATprojects provided the tanks and plumbing materials, but installation of the water supply was carried out by senior schoolchildren, supervised by ATprojects staff. The water tank initiative is now being expanded.
The next stage of the project is now underway in partnership with a New Zealand organisation, Water for survival, and with the assistance of VSA. This will see each school install at least two new toilets, using the unique "ATloo" design developed by ATprojects' architectural staff in consultation with local communities. An intensive health education programme is also in progress.
Steve Layton says while ATprojects supplies the toilets, it's the communities who own the project. "Using locally sourced materials, the students themselves do everything - digging the pit, making the timber framework, fitting the grass roof. We work alongside teachers to ensure the exercise is suitable to integrate into their teaching programmes for maths, technology and so on.
"This may mean the process takes longer, but it's vital to ensuring the kids have a sense of ownership and responsibility."
Teaching children how to use, care for and maintain the toilets is essential. Steve says in many areas, children may have never seen a sit-down toilet, and footprints on the seat are not uncommon. One of his colleagues, John Nokue, has come up with an ingenious way of instructing small boys in their, using a water-filled balloon and a length of pipe!
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Steve Layton says one of the most rewarding aspects of the schools water supply education project is seeing communities take ownership of their new facilities.
"We see teachers and students coming up with creative ways to make the system work better and fit their needs - like diverting water outlets to the teachers, gardens when the school is closed, to prevent vandalism and wastage.
"It's a perfect illustration of what appropriate technology is all about - people finding low-cost ways of solving local issues with local materials."