Monday, 18 July, 2022
In Yemen, access to proper sanitation is infrequent. Unable to access toilet facilities and open defecation are both widespread. It forthwith contaminates water and food and contributes to the spread of potentially life-threatening diseases. In 2018, Yemen was subject to the largest cholera epidemic in modern history. Aside from the immediate health risks, poor sanitation has additional consequences for women. Therefore, Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA) successfully completed the construction of 150 family latrines in two targeted districts, Jardan and Markh Al-Sufla districts of Shabwah governorate. The activity targeted 150 vulnerable families that do not have complete latrines or non-functional latrines.
This activity has a deep benefit for the residents’ lives, as it focuses on building the capacity of the vulnerable members of the community through orientation sessions that help change their behaviors toward healthier manners. Also, the beneficiaries with special needs were taken into consideration, as private latrines were designed to meet their needs and preserve their dignity.
The mechanism of this activity was to construct the latrines by workers from the residents of the targeted areas. These workers are divided into skilled workers and unskilled workers who work under the supervision of the project’s engineers.
Bilal Gharib is one of this intervention’s beneficiaries. His family’s benefit was not limited to the latrine that was constructed for them only, since he worked among the unskilled workers and under the supervision of the skilled workers and engineers directly. As a result, he gained a tangible experience, as he was able to earn money out of it. Hence, him gaining such technical skills improved Bilal and his family’s situation and removed him from the circle of vulnerability. "I will not stop here only, this opportunity has opened wide doors for me and earned me a skill that I will benefit from throughout my life" he said gratefully.
On the other hand, the engineers of the activity took care of the people with special needs and put their needs into consideration when designed the latrines. Sajeh Jafeesh is a person with special needs, he was facing difficulties in many aspects of his life, and using the latrine was one of the hardest. “In the open, the wheelchair cannot move!” he explained how tragic his situation was, as he needs two young men to take him out into the open in order to relieve himself, which exposes him to embarrassment. He replied "Now! I am able to go by myself to the bathroom at any time. I cannot be more grateful".
One of the bright outcomes of this activity is to shed light on women’s situations, in order to preserve their dignity and protect them from dangers. The residents of the targeted areas were specifying the evening time for women to defecate, this usually exposes them to the danger of insects’ bites and toxic pests. Amani Al-Hanami, who is one of the beneficiaries, is 35 years old and a mother of 5 boys and 2 girls, was asked about the problems they faced before constructing the latrines, and she mentioned describing the situation “Many of my neighbors got bitten by poisonous insects several times, especially in the evening period”. "I was worried about my little girls defecating in the open where there are poisonous insects and snakes that may kill one of my kids. When building the latrines, the situation became comfortable and safe. There was nothing left for us to fear of" she added.
In short, the success of any activity is measured by indicators and reactions from the community, as well as by the diversity of the activity’s usefulness to the aspects of the beneficiaries’ lives. Consequently, such projects make communities more dignified and contribute in providing them with the right to have a decent life. To sum up, we see that the activity was not limited to the direct benefit of the community, but rather paid attention to details that bring great benefit to people with disabilities and those who has special cases, making various individuals satisfied with the achievements of this project and sensing that their humanity and rights are still considered.
This activity has a deep benefit for the residents’ lives, as it focuses on building the capacity of the vulnerable members of the community through orientation sessions that help change their behaviors toward healthier manners. Also, the beneficiaries with special needs were taken into consideration, as private latrines were designed to meet their needs and preserve their dignity.
The mechanism of this activity was to construct the latrines by workers from the residents of the targeted areas. These workers are divided into skilled workers and unskilled workers who work under the supervision of the project’s engineers.
Bilal Gharib is one of this intervention’s beneficiaries. His family’s benefit was not limited to the latrine that was constructed for them only, since he worked among the unskilled workers and under the supervision of the skilled workers and engineers directly. As a result, he gained a tangible experience, as he was able to earn money out of it. Hence, him gaining such technical skills improved Bilal and his family’s situation and removed him from the circle of vulnerability. "I will not stop here only, this opportunity has opened wide doors for me and earned me a skill that I will benefit from throughout my life" he said gratefully.
On the other hand, the engineers of the activity took care of the people with special needs and put their needs into consideration when designed the latrines. Sajeh Jafeesh is a person with special needs, he was facing difficulties in many aspects of his life, and using the latrine was one of the hardest. “In the open, the wheelchair cannot move!” he explained how tragic his situation was, as he needs two young men to take him out into the open in order to relieve himself, which exposes him to embarrassment. He replied "Now! I am able to go by myself to the bathroom at any time. I cannot be more grateful".
One of the bright outcomes of this activity is to shed light on women’s situations, in order to preserve their dignity and protect them from dangers. The residents of the targeted areas were specifying the evening time for women to defecate, this usually exposes them to the danger of insects’ bites and toxic pests. Amani Al-Hanami, who is one of the beneficiaries, is 35 years old and a mother of 5 boys and 2 girls, was asked about the problems they faced before constructing the latrines, and she mentioned describing the situation “Many of my neighbors got bitten by poisonous insects several times, especially in the evening period”. "I was worried about my little girls defecating in the open where there are poisonous insects and snakes that may kill one of my kids. When building the latrines, the situation became comfortable and safe. There was nothing left for us to fear of" she added.
In short, the success of any activity is measured by indicators and reactions from the community, as well as by the diversity of the activity’s usefulness to the aspects of the beneficiaries’ lives. Consequently, such projects make communities more dignified and contribute in providing them with the right to have a decent life. To sum up, we see that the activity was not limited to the direct benefit of the community, but rather paid attention to details that bring great benefit to people with disabilities and those who has special cases, making various individuals satisfied with the achievements of this project and sensing that their humanity and rights are still considered.
