SLS-3b4.4 The First 4YUG Cohort - Rwanda - Self-Help - Toilet as social enterprise

We would not normally think of a toilet as a social enterprise.  But that’s exactly what African Evangelical Enterprise (AEE) Rwanda did with one of their Self-Help Groups. AEE Rwanda’s key strategy is to help the local people to form self-help cooperatives.  Each has 20 members, often all of them women.  Each cooperative would decide to develop businesses matching their skills and local needs.  One of our first tasks in 2013 was to learn about the businesses, interview the members of the cooperatives, take photographs and videos, and publicize their stories through their web site, promotional materials, and our own channels. 

One such business was a fee-charging public latrine at the corner of a busy bus station / car park.  Water is in short supply all over Rwanda, and particularly in the mountains.  

The group has to pay to have pipes installed to deliver water to the latrine. Each customer is charged 100 Rwanda franc, which is roughly US 15 cents, or HK$ 1.20.  It is not cheap by Rwandan standards.  But there seems to be sufficient demand at the bus station to make it profitable.  And by making water available, it is helping to improve the general hygiene in the area.  It really is a great social enterprise and a public good. 

The lady manager speaks with confidence and authority.  She employees a man who collects the fees and does the chores around the place.  When our students interviewed her, she spoke with pride and confidence, smiling often.  She also looks healthy and in high spirits. 

We were told that in the past, women usually stay home and do not work outside. They do not generate income and have little economic power.  Consequently a very low social status.  Now a lot more women work gainfully, like this lady manager of the latrine.   They enjoy a lot more independence and higher status in society.  I was also told that there is a practical reason why the members of the cooperatives are generally women - women tend to be more loyal members!   Many of the men are easily distracted and do not manage to stay in the Self-Help Group for long.  Many times we see groups of women meeting to discuss the business of their groups, learning business skills, etc., while men play soccer or just sitting around.  

We find it all very encouraging and somewhat amusing. 

We have also visited many other businesses operated by Self-Help Groups.  There was a butcher shop; a pigs farm; a farm growing passion fruit; a bees farm; a farm with lots of chicken, goats, turkeys and rabbits; …  Some of these businesses also benefit from other programs, which help them with skills, connections, planning, funding, …  But the fundamental motif of a group of people coming together to help themselves and each other, learning new skills, building small businesses, improving their own lives as well as others’, is pervasive and tremendously up-lifting. 

Over the years, they have also proven to be great partners for our projects.