LIBERIA: Oxfam Project Impacts Buchanan Residents
…Beneficiaries Commend Charity – By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – A sanitation project initiated by a British based charity, Oxfam has made tremendous impact in the lives of beneficiaries in New Buchanan, Grand Bass County.
Worms Fecal used as fertilizer for back yard garden
A beneficiary, Morris Gbagee standing beside the Tiger worms Toilet
Ken Neyor , a beneficiary of Oxfam’s Tiger Worm Project in New Buchana, Grand Bassa County
Madam Annie Diggs , another beneficiary of the project
Imagine a toilet that takes human waste and converts it into minerals for fertilizer and clean water, while harvesting energy in the process.
The toilet doesn’t use water, doesn’t need expensive infrastructure of a sewerage system, doesn’t need to be connected to mains electricity and, unlike composting toilets, and doesn’t need lots of space and time.
The Tiger Worms Project is a new innovation introduced by Oxfam-Liberia in a bid to mitigate the issue of sanitation not only Liberia, but across the globe.
The Tiger Worms Project in New Buchanan has served as an eye opening for beneficiaries as it relates to improved sanitation.
“It doesn’t smell, neither gets fill with feces like other toilets” Morris Gbagee, a beneficiary noted.
According to Mr. Gbagee, before the construction of the Tiger Worms Toilet his experience using pit latrine was awful.
He said the toilet smelled so bad, often serving as a complete embarrassment for him and the community at large.
The Oxfam Tiger Worm beneficiary asserted that with the installation of the toilet in his house things have been going on fine now.
“I am now using the worms fecal as fertilizer in my back yard garden and the plants are so fresh, Morris indicated”,
Annie Diggs, an elderly woman praised Oxfam for its new innovation in providing better sanitation facility to some residents of Grand Bassa County.
Madam Diggs wants the charity to extend the project to other communities in Buchana City.
With the instruction and guidance provided by Oxfam in using the Tiger worms toilet, it is very simple and less expensive, Madam Diggs disclosed.
Madam Diggs noted that she enjoyed using the tiger worms toilet and expressed thanks to Oxfam for such project in Grand Bassa County
For his part, Ken Neyor, in his twenties described the project as a great opportunity for his family.
Ken told WASH Reporters that before the construction of the toilet, the outside latrine that his family was using got filled always with an unpleasant smell.
“We could not live with bad smell from our own feces, Ken Neyor said.
Though, not a direct beneficiary, Professor Morris Zobah, an instructor at the Grand Bassa Community College said the project came at the time when the issue of sanitation is critical to the well being of the country .
Professor Zobah indicated that since the introduction of the project in the area, many residents are eager to benefiting from Oxfam’s gesture as well.
He said the tiger worms toilet is a source of empowerment for the people of Grand Bassa County, especially beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Grand Bassa Community College Professor is appealing to Oxfam to consider him form a part of the next Tiger Worms Toilet in his community.
