To make the difference

The provision of ecological sanitation facilities in schools is a first step towards a healthy physical learning environment. However, the mere provision of facilities does not make them sustainable or produce the desired impact. The provision of sanitation has to be combined with a behavioural change. To achieve this change people first of all need to see the benefit of ecological sanitation.

In order to perceive change it is first of all important to take notice of the culture, norms and attitudes of children. In a lot of cultures it is for example a general norm that handling of excreta should be avoided. Furthermore it is important to know about practices to find out what behaviour needs to be changed to turn the new ecosan toilets into a success. For example in many cultures people do it in the open field, whereby drinking water is contaminated. This increases risks of spreading diseases.

Furthermore, it is very important to take gender issues into account when introducing sanitation at schools. For example when the toilets are located far from the actual school building, girls are more likely to be harassed by boys or men. When reaching puberty, children become aware of their physical differences; which creates a need for gender related privacy. It is therefore important, especially for girls who are menstruating, that a toilet offers enough privacy.

It is important to take social economic factors in account. Are schools in possession of financial resources to cover expenses for sanitary improvements? The poor need not to be marginalised because they are unable to afford ecological sanitation. Sometimes confusion exists between affordability and willingness to pay. In order to spend money on sanitation people need to be convinced by the value of sanitation.

Moreover, it is important to be aware of political structures. For example, there might be guidelines for building schools or even for building toilets in schools. Finally, you have to involve different stakeholders which are important in the sanitation system. For example who will be designing, emptying maintaining cleaning the latrines. It is especially important to actively involve teachers, children, parents and the community in this process.