Hygiene in areas  with an erratic water supply 

Alldays – The WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) Schools programme has responded to the inconsistent water supply and the threat of COVID-19 in the Limpopo province by distributing a foot-controlled hand washer system to 12 schools.

 
Zwakele Ngwenya was inspired by the DIY tippy-tap-system which can be made with waste materials to design something durable that could be used at schools. 
With funding from the De Beers Group, 12 schools namely Brieshof Primary, Alldays Primary, Modikwa Primary, Ramaahlo Primary, Mpebe Primary, Leboho Primary, Rasekgale Primary, Mama Primary, Makgari Primary, Makgafela Primary, Mamo Yahao Primary and Sepanya Primary received a handwashing at the end of 2020. The initiative was part of WESSA’s COVID-19 response strategy to assist schools to reopen and to stay open for the benefit of children’s education. 

Retired engineer Colin Cooper built the units in Groot Marico, North West province after Zwakele sent him drawings on email and two days later Colin had built a two-pedalled unit. The left pedal provides a squirt of hand soap while pressing the right pedal releases water to rinse it off. To date, Zwakele has distributed 149 handwashing units in four provinces. 

Colin runs a bicycle production plant in Groot Marico. He has also built trailer units which can be used by waste pickers for transporting recyclables via bicycles as he is both an avid cyclist and aware of the negative impact of plastic pollution.

Bulk orders for handwashing units can
 be placed with Colin at colinc03@gmail.com, 
more information on schools and environment 
can be found at www.wessa.co.za.