'''Country:''' Colombia
Keywords: UDDT, greywater treatment, education, school sanitation
=== Students and their families both contribute to and benefit from improved sanitation facilities ===
'''Basic data:'''
Two rural schools in Apulo municipality, Cundimarca, Colombia were equipped with UDDTs, which solved there the lack of the toilet facilities. The project was funded and carried out by Health and Environment Institute of El Bosque University in Bogotá. The Institute has worked on projects of applied research and social progress in such schools on themes related to health and the environment, which includes the promotion and implementation of alternative sanitation systems, for the last seven years and has received technical assistance from Stockholm Environment Institute.
==== '''The project and the experiences:''' ====
''“One of the benefits that the new facilities bring to our school is that it does not need water for flushing and that we can take advantage of it for irrigation of plants, eating, drinking, hand washing.”'' – Alex
Carlos says: “Including the children in the planning process is very important for the acceptance and successful implementation. By interviewing students from a similar project in this region, we found out that the benches were not appropriate for children. The standard size of the toilet seat was too large and the division wall for urine bowl was too high with sharp edges. Both generated inconveniences for the children.” A new wooden bench was constructed and the seat was replaced with an appropriate one.
==== '''The key lessons of the story: ===='''
[[File:Colombia3.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Stored urine is applied to flowers to demonstrate the usefulness as fertiliser]]
The project leader María Inés Matiz concludes that the following factors contributed to the success of these projects in the region:
*''Strong relationship between the school management and parents''*''Including parents in the provision of supplies such as ash; works especially well at small schools''*''User assessment and feedback from the students''*''Combination of workshops and follow up to make sure users develop ownership of the system''
Kim Andersson from SEI, who provided technical support for this project, adds:
''“This initiative highlights the role of schools as demonstration centres in rural areas. The project showed the benefits of an alternative sanitation system, and this together with the interest of the community and various organisations have led to replication in rural households in the area. A key, long term impact of the project is the generation of acceptance and ownership of a new sanitation technology for rural communities.”''
==== '''Contribution to the SuSanA sustainability criteria:''' ====
'''Protect the Environment and Natural Resources: '''UDDTs contain waste, conserve rainwater, and provide fertilizer for plants at the school.
'''Technically Appropriate, Including O&M:''' Students and their families work together to take care of their sanitation system.
'''Socially Acceptable and Institutionally Appropriate:''' Feedback from other projects in the region was crucial for designing these systems.
==== Projekt Project details: ====
'''Project period:'''
'''Project location: ''' two schools in Apulo municipality, Cundimarca, Colombia
'''Executing institution and funder: ''' Health and Environment Institute of El Bosque University in Bogotá
'''Project partners: ''' SEI, WECF
'''''SEI''''' ''(Stocholm Stockholm Environment IntituteInstitute) is an independent international research institute. It has been engaged in environment and development issues at local, national, regional and global policy levels for more than 25 years. They support decision-making and induce change towards sustainable development around the world by providing integrative knowledge that bridges science and policy in the field of environment and development.''
'''''WECF'''''(Women in Europe for a Common Future) is a non-governmental organization established in 1994 following the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to give women a stronger voice in the field of sustainable development and environment. WECF strives for balancing the environment, health and economy, taking the different needs and perspectives of women and men into account and implements solutions locally and influences policy internationally.
==== For more information: =Contact ===[[File:Colombia4universidad el bosque.jpg|thumbright|right150px|200pxlink=http://www.uelbosque.edu.co/en]][[File:SEI.jpg|thumbright|right150px|200pxlink=https://www.sei-international.org/]]
'''Maria Ines Matiz'''
Health and Environment Institute, El Bosque University
Email: {{No spam|matizmaria |unbosque.edu.co}} [at] unbosquehttp://www.uelbosque.edu.co uelbosque.edu.co]
[http://www.uelbosque.edu.co http://www.uelbosque.edu.co]
'''Kim Anderson'''
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Email: {{No spam|kim.andersson [at] |sei-international.org }}
[http://www.sei-international.org http://www.sei-international.org]
