The Nawarddeken Academy Bush Loo Project
Going to the toilet at school is a given for nearly all Australian school kids. At least it should be. But at the Manmoyi school in West Arnhem Land, the school toilets were frequently out of action because of the wet season conditions and high plumbing maintenance requirements. Students had to go home if they needed to go to the toilet.
Things were not much better at the Manadawerre school, where the drop-toilet pits were full and truck access difficult for emptying. With Darwin a 10-hour drive away on dirt road and the area cut off from local towns during the long wet season, the situation was a unique challenge for this very remote community.
The Project
The Nawarddeken Academy identified a solution to the problem and sought assistance from the Reece Foundation grant program to install purpose-built, moveable drop-toilets which could be transported from one location to another once the pit is full – a sustainable alternative to rebuilding the toilets each time they reached their use-by date.
By ensuring this maintenance and relocation can be done locally, Nawarddeken are able to provide local jobs, and ensure that this investment in infrastructure supports a local economy. Importantly, the improvement in sanitation facilities will support Nawarddeken Academy as they prepare for the future in developing early learning, primary school and high school programs.
The Outcome
4 moveable
bush loos
8 ready-to-use
pits excavated
105 students
teachers and community members with access to clean and reliable toilet facilities
A better world starts with you.
Every donation helps us and our partners on the ground make real change for the people that need it the most. If you’re a qualified tradie, you can join our list of volunteers to be notified when there's a project that needs your expertise. Have a project idea? Apply for a Reece Foundation Grant to help a community here or overseas.
