It is scary how often the access to basic human fundamentals are taken for granted, I am talking about things such as running water and sanitation. Yet in many areas of rural Africa these necessary services are not met by the government, and even less so by the community themselves - In a lot of cases these services are installed and not maintained or even vandalized during strikes in order to gain better services. It is a sad sad reality - but one that must be faced and addressed none the less.
On a side note, a discussion with 
O.K, but let me try and get back to the point here. The reason that this topic came up in the first place was because I was recently approached by a group of people who would like to 'make a difference' and contribute towards the rural development of lesser advantaged Africa, with regards to sanitation, and they would like to do so from an entomological standpoint, in stead of putting up costly chemical plantations.
And they asked us to do a proposal for a natural solution, and seeing that we are already busy doing another project with the black soldier flies and it larvae, it was on the forefront that it just might be the solution that they were looking for.
So here is the basic outline of the proposal sent through for conceptual approval, and as this is simply a quick proposal put together for the approval of research and development, it simply contains the structural basics of the project, also I have left the graphs, drawings and planning out of the post (for now) at least until we get an 'approve or denied' from the institution that the proposal was sent to - this is simply so that we maintain the rights to register our plans should they be approved, without having to worry about someone else jumping the gun.
Problem:
Large quantities of sewage that is left unprocessed in ever growing rural communities with no definite sanitation solutions.
Solution:
Make use of a sustainable and maintainable biological solution, that not only processes the sewage, but also produces a safe eco-organic by-product, that can generate a much needed source of income in afflicted rural areas.
Market:
Underdeveloped Rural areas where sanitation plants are absent. In many underdeveloped rural areas, sanitation and the processing of sewage is non existent, and with a constant incline in the numbers of populous this hosts an array of threats, such as widely spread disease and unpleasant living conditions.
We are offering a sustainable solution to and increasing influx of human waste and sewage, where we aim to convert said waste into a safe and usable organic by-product, that not only resolves the issue of sanitation processing, but can also generate a steady income of its own while creating jobs in poverty stricken areas.
There is an extremely high, and ever growing demand for the processing of human sewage, however in many underdeveloped rural areas, expensive sewage plants are not present, also such plants make use of harsh chemicals to treat the waste, these chemicals can have long term damaging effects on the eco-system and it surroundings. Therefore we intend on making use of a natural and proven alternative, that will process human waste by converting it into a marketable safe to use compost, that we intend to buy back from the community in order to create a sustainable income for those involved.
Our Method?
The Black Soldier Flies
When utilized and managed correctly BSF have the full ability to process human sewage and biomass, in a natural chemical free way, that is not damaging or harmful to the environment or humans. This system will serve in the best interest of community member that reside in rural areas where basic needs such as running water as well as sanitation has been completely neglected, or is non existent.
Over the course of the next three years we would like to extensively research and develop a well structured enterprise that will allow us to convert human sewage into a safe to use compost by making use of specially designed, self maintaining Black Soldier Fly boxes. This will include creating a mold, designed from our functional prototype, from which we will be able to reproduce self maintaining BSF boxes that is intended to be used in the natural sewage processing system, while ensuring that we are able to continuously supply fresh larvae from a stable and healthy breeding stock that will keep the system running.
After we have been enabled to create a mold of the self contained BSF units, and we are able to produce the boxes needed for the sewage solution system, we can proceed by offering training to the community members of the affected rural areas on the installation and utilization thereof, we intend to offer ongoing continuous support with regards to the maintenance of the boxes and colonies as well as troubleshooting possible issues that might arise.
Our home based support will also entail, supplying the community where this system has been installed with fresh breeding stock for the first 9 (nine) months of their venture, as well as creating a stable market of sales by purchasing their processed compost as well as matured pupae back from them. This will allow us to conduct further studies and testing on the full utilization of all final products. While allowing empowerment of the community by creating a steady source of income and revenue.
We would also like to look into the possibility of supplying these systems with with more system compatible toilets at a later stage, but we are still only at fundamental stages of developing this concept.
We are a VAT Registered organisation that boasts with years of experience in the entomological and biodiversity field. We aim to create long term sustainable solutions that are environmentally friendly, practical and manageable.
Located in Limpopo, the heart of the bushveld, we realize the need to conserve and preserve our resources, by making use of natures provisions and applying it to better tomorrow – today.
Note: Resource and development funds will also be appropriated to attain and maintain equipment, materials, consumables, also to cover the costs of transportation as well as other general expenses.
With all of that being said, I have to admit that I am still stuck in between wondering if this aid will truly lead to constructive development of communities, that chooses not to contribute towards their own development and have become completely reliant on others to do their thinking and doing for them; and educating people on natural alternatives that may enhance their lives if utilized and maintained.
