The mission of The Carter Center, founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health (The Carter Center). The Center believes that people can improve their lives when provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, and access to resources (The Carter Center). This is one of the five principles guided by the Carter Center that I felt most related to the construction of latrines as material folklore of vernacular architecture.
Based on the definition from Wikipedia.com, Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources to address local needs. With that being said the local need was to prevent Trachoma and other diseases, the only way to do that is latrine construction to contain human feces and prevent fecco-orally transmitted diseases. The whole process of latrine construction began with “efficient and targeted training” (Dr.Emerson). An Executive Summary on Pit latrines for all Households stated “approximately 2000 community leaders were trained how to construct a latrine for themselves; they in turn, returned to their communities and helped their neighbors by sharing their practical and theoretical training which resulted in larger numbers of people being trained in latrine construction and use without any additional need for training resources.”(Bixler) Continuing with the definition of vernacular architecture, people had to provide their own materials so methods of construction used locally available resources. People already had construction experience from building their own home with local materials so construction training was not necessary (Dr. Emerson).
The Executive Summary Pit Latrines for all Households describes how pit latrines were constructed. The latrines consisted of pits 2-4 meters deep, with a platform of wood poles and mud plaster over it, and a traditionally built superstructure around it.
Also included is a hand-washing station made from a gourde.
Houston Chronicle: Steve Campbell
A more uniquely accepted design by the unskilled local laborers is the Domed Pit Latrine Slab Kit. The dome shape minimized the thickness, making it cheaper than traditional reinforced slab. To keep the flies out and the smell in, there is a lid with a wire handle. The wire handle heats up from sunlight, killing germs and reducing contamination.
Several styles of concrete slabs. Different Types of Pit Latrine Shelters.
CARTER CENTER PHOTO: JIM ZINGESER
One might notice the similarities of latrine shelters in Africa to outhouses in our own country or other parts of the world. The basic construction of a pit latrine has not changed much.
Houston Chronicle: Steve Campbell
A more uniquely accepted design by the unskilled local laborers is the Domed Pit Latrine Slab Kit. The dome shape minimized the thickness, making it cheaper than traditional reinforced slab. To keep the flies out and the smell in, there is a lid with a wire handle. The wire handle heats up from sunlight, killing germs and reducing contamination.
Several styles of concrete slabs. Different Types of Pit Latrine Shelters.
CARTER CENTER PHOTO: JIM ZINGESER
One might notice the similarities of latrine shelters in Africa to outhouses in our own country or other parts of the world. The basic construction of a pit latrine has not changed much.
MSF-USA (Doctors Without Borders-USA) has some general guidelines for pit latrine construction they are as follows (Refugee Camp):
1. Latrine site should be chosen downhill, 30M away from groundwater access.
2. Latrines should not be less than 5M and not more than 50M from living quarters.
3. World Health Organization uses a formula of .04M3 x number of people to determine pit size.
4. Cement slab to extend 15 cm beyond pit.
5. Construct a superstructure, a door is optional.
6. Roof should slope towards the back of the structure.
7. Dig a drainage channel around the latrine to prevent runoff from entering and to protect the walls of pit.
Per the MSF-USA pit latrines alone cannot reduce the occurrences of fecco-orally transmitted diseases without the vigilance of the people. After every latrine use, wash the hands and face. By keeping the covers on the latrine that reduces the breeding of flies and bad smells. The slab and surrounding area should be cleaned everyday. Fire ash should be put into pit after each use, thus reducing not only the odor and increasing decomposition. When pit is nearly full, the superstructure and slab are to be moved to a new location and old pit covered with soil. Do not dig in this place for at least two years.
Wikipedia.Com states that “Vernacular architecture may, through time, be adopted and refined into culturally accepted solutions, but only through repetition may it become “traditional”. I believe that definition can be supported by the following fact. “After extolling the latrine to the community leaders…..the message caught on in village after village. One family would build a latrine and others, envious, would follow suit. Having a latrine became a status symbol”. (Bixler) Only through the repetition of spreading the word about the importance of latrine construction and good hygiene did the vernacular architecture of pit latrines become culturally acceptable and thus “traditional”.
This is my response to my Second Encounter Project.
Works Cited
Bixler, Mark. Rural Ethiopia Latrine Program. 2005. 6 October 2007.
<http://www.carter%20center.org/news/documents/doc2100.html.>
Carter Center.com. Niger Latrine Program Aids Trachoma Prevention. 2004. 6 October 2007.WWW.CarterCenter.org/news/documents/doc1704.html>.
Dr. Emerson, Paul. Executive Summary: Pit Latrines for all Households: The Experiences of Hulet Eju Enessie Woreda, Amhora National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. 2005. 6 October 2007.WWW.CarterCenter.org>.
Claudia Feldman. Visions of Health: Carters Work to End Scourge in Ethiopia. 2005. 6 October 2007. http://carter%20center.org/news/documents/doc2223.html.
Domed Pit Latrine Slab Kit. 6 October 2007. http://other90.copperhewitt.org/Design/domed-pit-latrine-slab-kit
Sims, Martha A. and Martine Stephens. Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of Peoples and Their Traditions. Logan: Utah State University Press, 2005.
The Carter Center: Creating a World in Which Every Man, Woman, and Child Has the Opportunity to Enjoy Good Health and Live in Peace. 2007. 6 October 2007.
http://www.carter%20center.org/about/index.html.
Refugee Camp Project-Learn More: Latrines (simple pit latrine). 6 October 2007. MSF-USA: http://www.msf.ca/refugeecamp/learnmore/latrines/simple_pit_latrine.htm.
Vernacular Architecture. Wikipedia.com. 26 September 2007. 6 October 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vernacular_architecture.
1. Latrine site should be chosen downhill, 30M away from groundwater access.
2. Latrines should not be less than 5M and not more than 50M from living quarters.
3. World Health Organization uses a formula of .04M3 x number of people to determine pit size.
4. Cement slab to extend 15 cm beyond pit.
5. Construct a superstructure, a door is optional.
6. Roof should slope towards the back of the structure.
7. Dig a drainage channel around the latrine to prevent runoff from entering and to protect the walls of pit.
Per the MSF-USA pit latrines alone cannot reduce the occurrences of fecco-orally transmitted diseases without the vigilance of the people. After every latrine use, wash the hands and face. By keeping the covers on the latrine that reduces the breeding of flies and bad smells. The slab and surrounding area should be cleaned everyday. Fire ash should be put into pit after each use, thus reducing not only the odor and increasing decomposition. When pit is nearly full, the superstructure and slab are to be moved to a new location and old pit covered with soil. Do not dig in this place for at least two years.
Wikipedia.Com states that “Vernacular architecture may, through time, be adopted and refined into culturally accepted solutions, but only through repetition may it become “traditional”. I believe that definition can be supported by the following fact. “After extolling the latrine to the community leaders…..the message caught on in village after village. One family would build a latrine and others, envious, would follow suit. Having a latrine became a status symbol”. (Bixler) Only through the repetition of spreading the word about the importance of latrine construction and good hygiene did the vernacular architecture of pit latrines become culturally acceptable and thus “traditional”.
This is my response to my Second Encounter Project.
Works Cited
Bixler, Mark. Rural Ethiopia Latrine Program. 2005. 6 October 2007.
<http://www.carter%20center.org/news/documents/doc2100.html.>
Carter Center.com. Niger Latrine Program Aids Trachoma Prevention. 2004. 6 October 2007.
Dr. Emerson, Paul. Executive Summary: Pit Latrines for all Households: The Experiences of Hulet Eju Enessie Woreda, Amhora National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. 2005. 6 October 2007.
Claudia Feldman. Visions of Health: Carters Work to End Scourge in Ethiopia. 2005. 6 October 2007. http://carter%20center.org/news/documents/doc2223.html.
Domed Pit Latrine Slab Kit. 6 October 2007. http://other90.copperhewitt.org/Design/domed-pit-latrine-slab-kit
Sims, Martha A. and Martine Stephens. Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of Peoples and Their Traditions. Logan: Utah State University Press, 2005.
The Carter Center: Creating a World in Which Every Man, Woman, and Child Has the Opportunity to Enjoy Good Health and Live in Peace. 2007. 6 October 2007.
http://www.carter%20center.org/about/index.html.
Refugee Camp Project-Learn More: Latrines (simple pit latrine). 6 October 2007. MSF-USA: http://www.msf.ca/refugeecamp/learnmore/latrines/simple_pit_latrine.htm.
Vernacular Architecture. Wikipedia.com. 26 September 2007. 6 October 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vernacular_architecture.
1 comment:
An important topic interestingly presented.
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