Approval has been received from The Rotary Foundation for an application to construct sanitation facilities in various Early Childhood Development Centers across the communities surrounding Polokwane, South Africa. This award is in the amount of US$200,000. The project's one simple goal is to provide safe, hazardous free sanitation faciliteis for the benefit of children in early development canters as a basic human right. Currently, according to BBC News, South Africa has 25,000 schools with 4,500 of which are still using pit toilets. A pit tolilet is a hole in the ground covered by a platform. Many are shoddily constructed and as they get older become a death trap for young children.
Current Pit Toilet New Waterless Toilets
The funds from this grant will be used to to construct new sanitation facilities using dry sanitatioin technology. This application was prepared by Blessman International and the Rotary Club of Ankeny is acting as the US Host and the Rotary Club of Polokwane is the local club. The majority of the funding will be coming from one of Blessman's major donors. These funds, $115,000, will be given to the Rotary Club of Ankeny, and we will then forward to the Rotary Foundation along with $1,000 from our club. District 6000 will provide $24,452, and $3,938 will be provided by the Rotary Club of Polokwane and their District 9400. The balance of the funds will come from RI matching funds.
