Project Launch: 7-22-13

The Nyagihanga Sector community in Rwanda is largely comprised of subsistence farmers; from dusk to evening, elderly, men, women, mothers with their babies on their backs, teenagers and children work in the fields, harvesting fruits, vegetables, coffee and spices. There are few job opportunities outside of farming available and often the youth and children are forced to drop-out of school to help their families in farming. As with much of rural Rwanda, the Nyagihanga sector community is without a reliable energy source and depends on power generators where they are available. Current solutions produce more problems as generators often blow out and the energy available at the local health center, where many go for charging of cell phones, for example, is often overburdened and needs to be protected for the functioning of the health center.

The lack of public sanitation facilities is also a major issue in Nyagihanga - it is common to see both men and women going to the bathroom in public throughout the village, day or night. Although this practice is common, it is not something the majority of the people prefer to do, especially women, but there is often no alternative. The practice leads to soil and water contamination, which leads to adverse health effects on community members, particularly women and children.

The Nyagihanga sector community has expressed a desire to tackle these myriad problems to improve the health of its community members. With World Connect's support, community leaders will install three public-access biogas latrines, which have the potential to alleviate unhygienic practices and offer the benefit of a more reliable local energy source. The latrines convert organic matter into biogas, a renewable energy source, and bioslurry, an organic fertilizer. Households in the community will have access to the biogas energy source for activities such as cooking and lighting their homes. Using biogas to cook with is a healthier alternative to the use of wood or charcoal, because it reduces air pollutants caused by smoke exposure. Women and children are largely afflicted with respiratory illnesses, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis and eye irritations, due to cooking on an open fire, smoke exposure and inhalation. The community will also be able to use the bioslurry in local agricultural project and to sell it as an income-generating activity. The Nyagihanga sector community has identified a simple and economical solution to improve the health and energy needs of its population.