“Interaction with USAID IUWASH PLUS has made us aware of the importance of having a latrine and access to water supply for a clean and healthy environment in Makamhaji village,” said Wasimin Minto Harjo, when he explained the plan of the BKM to improve the condition of his village environment. Wasimin Minto Harjo is the Chairperson of Community Self-Sustaining Agency (BKM) Wahyu Tumurun.
Makamhaji village, located in Sukoharjo district is still facing numerous challenges, such as slum neighborhoods, lack of access to water supply and sanitation, and some residents who still practice open defecation.
Considering those conditions, Wasimin, affectionately known as Pak Was, together with BKM Wahyu Tumurun, was determined to overcome those challenges. “We are allocating the profit of the BKM activities this year to build latrines for poor families,” said Pak Was, who is also very experienced in the construction field. BKM Wahyu Tumurun, established in 2005, is a self-sustaining community institution that also has attention for poverty alleviation. Currently, BKM has 18 caretakers. “In the BKM regulation, there is a fund allocation of 5% of the profits earned for social development,” Pak Was added.
In 2017 there were 6 poor families who received assistance to build latrines. The latrines were built using biofilter technology with two septic tanks that meet SNI standards. The cost to built the latrines was 3.5 million rupiah/unit and with the assistance provided by BKM Wahyu Tumurun amounts to 2.5 million rupiah/unit. The shortcomings are fulfilled by beneficiaries in the form of labor and material contributions and non-material contributions collected voluntarily.
The BKM’s efforts also received good support from the village government, office of public works, housing and settlement area (PU Perkim) in Sukoharjo district and USAID IUWASH PLUS. Supported by USAID IUWASH PLUS, BKM Wahyu Tumurun actively initiates the triggering of hygiene behavior and also promotes the use of a latrine with septic tank to the community in order to increase the community awareness and willingness to use a latrine.
One of the beneficiares of the latrine building assistance is Ibu Ngatini, a 49 year old woman who works as PAUD (Early Childhood Education) teacher in Makamhaji village. “Previously, I had to go to my relative’s house if I wanted to defecate, even sometimes I had to go the neighbor’s house. Especially in the night, I’m really confused,” said Ibu Ngatini. “Thanks to BKM for helping me build a latrine in my house now my life is easier,” she said.
“Hopefully, the building of this latrine can trigger the community, especially the poor to build latrines,” expected Pak Was. In December 2017, BKM and the Sukoharjo district Health Office began the development of 14 units of latrines with septic tanks for the poor. In addition to that, with the support from the PU Perkim, BKM built 2 units of communal septic tanks. In this case, USAID IUWASH PLUS assisted the BKM in making a proposal to build communal septic tanks. In 2018, BKM will continue the building of latrines and other sanitation facilities.
(Abdul Hazis/USAID IUWASH PLUS)
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