Posted on Nov 07, 2019

 

Rotary Hawthorn is proud to fund the construction of a second toilet block for primary school children in the Phillipines . This toilet block is in Pasil Elementary school.

Here is some extracts from an article by Networker Correspondent, Tony Thomas concerning in part our first Philippines toilet project at Pantikan Elementary School.   It focused on the special input by Melbourne Rotartian Dr Cecily Neil and the difficulties of projects in remote parts of the world.

Getting a primary school toilet built in the remote Kalinga Province of northern Luzon is one thing; arriving on the spot is another.

The toilet block consisting of  three-cubicle toilets with handwashing stations is at Pantikian Elementary school in mountainous Kalinga Province. At a total budget of A$ 4,600, this sanitation project was funded by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn.   

Finished in December, the job was organized by  Dr Cecily Neil through RAWCS D9800 and implemented on the ground by Sinangpad Association, a local Kalingan NGO .   

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The project is small but the principles are vital – community involvement and ability to keep the toilet operational. For example, the children chose the wall and door colors and through organized games  were taught handwashing and not to block the pipes, waste the water or  damage the taps. Pantikian men provided the unskilled labour on a voluntary basis. The local Municipal Engineer supervised the work at all key construction points.

The Parents and Teachers Assn members  worked with and helped supervise the skilled laborers. Mothers took turns cooking and serving workers’ lunches. Others planted gardens around the toilet.