Achievements ELA in 2008
Summary of the Annual Report
12.03.2009 | Gero Fedtke
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Towards a sustainable rural development in the EECCA region and Afghanistan.
Implementation projects of the ELA program in 2008 covered all four thematic issues. All projects demonstrated sustainable sanitation solutions: Urine Diverting Dry Toilets for households and schools. The year started with trainings conducted by WECF in cooperation with the Hamburg University of Technology, making also use of knowledge and experience on sustainable sanitation practices available in the WECF network.
Supported by WECF field staff, the project partners conducted awareness raising campaigns and trainings on hygiene and sanitation, and constructed demonstration toilets in households and schools selected with the help of participatory approaches. Exchange visits between ELA partners during the year further facilitated knowledge exchange and mutual learning. In Georgia, ELA partners even formed their own ELA network and joined for close cooperation. WECF organized study tours to Germany to learn about European standards in Renewable Energies; or facilitated ELA partners’ participation in sanitation trainings in Sweden.
The same approach was applied for the other thematic areas of drinking water, sustainable agriculture, and energy efficiency and renewable energies. Integrated demonstration centers bring everything together; as the center of ELA partner RCDA in Misaktsieli, Georgia: a training center with solar water heaters, Dry toilets, agricultural plots and accommodation facilities. Where partners do not cover all areas, WECF ensures their integration. WECF facilitated a workshop on developing a training manual and brochure on composting, making the expertise of some ELA partners available for all while including sustainable sanitation principles in sustainable agriculture methods. WECF also attracts applicable technologies from e.g. EMAS, which have been developed in South America but are perfectly applicable to the ELA region. Washing hands after visiting the lavatory is a basic hygiene rule – making warm water available with solar collectors integrates the areas of sanitation and renewable energies. Sustainable Sanitation solutions contribute to protection of drinking water sources.
Contact:
gero.fedtke@wecf.eu
This article is a summary of the ELA annual report 2008.
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