Motivating and Moving the Community for Change

Village Angori is located in within JEN’s support coverage region of Para Chamkani in the Central Kurram District. The local infrastructure of village Angori are lacking in various aspects (Ex: health, education, lifestyle facilities), which is similar to what is seen throughout the entire region. In terms of hygiene, neither the area nor the villagers are in good condition. The village lacks any form of sanitation facilities. The majority of the residents of village Angori simply use the restroom outside, as using a toilet has not become a social norm in the village.

Hussain Gul is a resident of village Angori. Although he has a job, he does not make enough to provide for his family. His family consists of 20 people, and both men and women have no other choice but to use the restroom outside of their homes. They have one toilet within their home, but it is not in usable conditions. Although he has considered repairing the toilet, he has not been able to execute it. By participating in JEN’s sanitation and hygiene sessions hosted in the village, he was able to recognize the significant necessity of repairing the family toilet.

He was surprised to hear that JEN would provide tools for constructing a new toilet. After creating a construction plan and receiving the tools, he quickly began the construction process.

              “It’s so hard to see my children going to the nearby stream to use the restroom. I have heard stories of my friends’ children getting injured while going to a field or a river to use the restroom.” He stated. During JEN’s hygiene kit distribution period, he received an indoor toilet set and toolkit and immediately began constructing a new bathroom. He has stated that the tools inside the hygiene kit were very useful, not only in constructing the bathroom but also to be used for agriculture and farming purposes.

              He stated as follows. “We are currently able to use the bathroom in our house. We were able to realize the numerous positives that comes along with having a bathroom in

our house. It not only helped us sanitation wise, but also got rid of the stress associated with using the restroom. We now have a vacuum cleaner in our house which further improves the conditions of our home. It was especially good for the children and women of the family because the bathroom provided a sense of respect of personal dignity.”

              Hussain Gul’s story is just one of constructing a bathroom, and JEN will need to further work with the people to achieve behavioral and awareness changes within the community. In order to achieve that, JEN hosted a sanitation and hygiene session for the men, women, and children living in the area. Hussain Gul’s bathroom construction after attending our sanitation and hygiene session is just one example that reveals how this project, made possible by the PHPF (Pakistan Humanitarian Pooled Fund) grant-in-aid, can be an effective and sustainable method in achieving changes in behavior and awareness regarding hygiene.

              Hussain Gul expressed his gratitude towards PHPF and JEN’s support, and additionally stated that “A major issue of the village is the waste water and rain water that runs through the neighborhoods, cemeteries, and croplands. Our crops are severely damaged every rainy season. With the support from JEN, we hope to create a drainage system that will change the flow direction of the nearby river. I want to thank JEN and PHPF on behalf of the village, and I hope that JEN will continue to provide support for us in the future!”

（Completed bathroom）