How to Build a Latrine in Haiti

Want to know how to build a latrine in the rural mountains of Haiti without roads or electricity?  Let me help with my step-by-step guide.  Follow it carefully and you will have a latrine (or 20) in no time at all.

Step 1:

Find a hole, a deep hole. This should be easy as the Haitians dig their own latrine holes once they hear you are coming.
Find a hole, a deep hole. This should be easy as the Haitians dig their own latrine holes once they hear you are coming.

Step 2:

Cut some wood to cover the hole. (That's me wielding a machete--love it!)
Cut some wood to cover the hole.  Machete is the prefered tool for this step. 

Step 3:

Cover the whole with the wood you cut.
Cover the whole with the wood.

Step 4:

Make sure you leave a hole big enough. Measure twice, cut once. Or as the Haitians do, measure five times then ignore your measurements.
Make sure you leave a hole big enough. Measure twice, cut once. Or follow the Haitians lead and measure five times then ignore your measurements.

Step 5:

Cut some more wood.
Cut more wood.  

Step 6:

Cover the old wood with the new wood. Make sure it's flat. (It's not going to be flat. You're cutting with machetes.)
Cover the old wood with the new wood. Make sure it’s flat. (Note: It’s not going to be flat. You’re cutting with machetes!)

Step 7:

Nail all the wood together. Note that in Haiti you will be using ungalvanized nails that really don't like to cooperate.
Nail both layers of wood together. (Note: in Haiti you will be using ungalvanized nails that really don’t like to cooperate. There will be dozens of dead nails when you finish.)

Step 8:

Cover the wood with a layer of rebar. Don't forget to tie them together so the don't roll out of place.
Cover the wood with a layer of rebar. Don’t forget to tie them together so the don’t roll out of place.

Step 9:

Dig some holes.
Dig four holes to place four posts in. (Don´t worry, you have not cut the posts yet. That`s next.)

Step 10:

Saw some wood.
Saw some wood.

Step 11:

Nail the wood together after putting it in the holes.
Nail the posts together after putting them in the holes. (Try hard to make it level and square, but don`t worry, it won`t be. The Haitians have the same attitude toward right angles as they have toward measuring.  Close is good enough.)

Step 12:

Admire your casita. (Somehow concrete will be poured and set. Don't worry about this step, it happens without you.)
Admire your casita after the concrete is poured and set. (Don’t worry, this step happens without you.)

Step 13:

Add some more wood to attach the zinc too.
Add some more wood to attach the zinc to.

Step 14:

Nail corrugated zinc to your wood structure. Note this will be very loud.
Nail corrugated zinc to your wood structure. (Note: this will be very loud.)

Step 15:

You still need a door. (Privacy!) Saw more wood.
You`re not done yet.  You still need a door.  Saw more wood.

Step 16:

Nail some more.
Nail more.

Step 17:

Cut zinc to fit.
Cut zinc to fit your door frame.

Step 18:

Allow your camera to die so that you don't have a photo of the final product with door attached.
Attach the door and you are finished.  (Don`t forget to allow your camera battery to die so that you don’t have a photo of the final product to show off.)

Step 19:

Congratulations! You have built a latrine in Haiti.
Congratulations! You have built a latrine in Haiti.

Step 20:

This is an unusual latrine design, even for us. It will be used by two families so they built a structure with two doors and two holes.
(Note: This is an unusual latrine design, even for us, even for Haiti. This will be used by two families so they built a structure with two doors and two holes.

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