Cell phones and TVs, but no toilets

Sad, but true.  We visited a community the other day to assess the needs for a type of latrine we build and for a clean water project we would like to pursue.  It is termed "the slums", although it is more on the outskirts of the city and the communities are actually very well organized.  But yes, there were actually sattelite dishes on top of little shacks.  But it was very clear that the need was there for what we have to offer.  This news clip describes the desparate situation: 

The first "community" we visited had 300+ families.  They have been there for about 3yrs.  There are one or two latrines that individual families have built, but that's it.  The have to pay 12 rupees (30 cents) for about 5 gallons of "potable water", although it is not anywhere near safe to drink. Some of them are starting to build homes out of cement and brick, which will be done bit by bit as they can afford it. 

The next area, adjacent to the first, has been there for 7 years, so the living spaces are a little bit more permanent, but the same situation exists.  Most resort to using the jungle-ish area some 100-200km away to go to the bathroom.  This community has electricity (sort of) and LDS charities has put in a few wells for water that are being well utilized, but still 98% of the people do not have a toilet or latrine.  And usually if they do have a latrine/septic system, they say they only use it for "emergencies" because it is so expensive to have it cleaned out, which has to be done about every 6 months.

Hopefully, in the next week I will have good news to share about the actions we are taking to help these communities.   Since this visit, we are already breaking ground for a "Soilet" (which I will write more about when I have pictures) and are making plans to build more wells like this one:

All so we can help these kids grow up healthy with a better chance at life.