How Waterless Toilets Can make a splash

Access to clean water and sanitation is a basic human right as well as Solar Energy. Sadly, millions of people in the world do not have access to these life-giving services. In most regions, women are responsible for helping their families gain access to these services, making their unique views and challenges crucial to the decision-making processes and solutions.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jenifer Colpas is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Tierra Grata, a social enterprise that aims to address the need for basic energy, water, and sanitation services in Colombia. In this article, we will look at how her innovative and eco-friendly waterless toilet systems can help revolutionize sanitation in remote regions.

Tierra Grata’s Mission

According to Colpas, „Water and sanitation issues sit at the intersection of environmental and social concerns. Lacking water and sanitation solutions contribute to disease, stagnation and the pollution of natural waterways.“ The effects of urbanization also worsen the problem, degrading the natural protection of watersheds and purification services, further exacerbating the gap between water supply and demand.

Colpas and her team train women in good water and sanitation practices, and install low-cost bathrooms with ecological toilets that do not require water, saving 270,000 liters of water per year. The Tierra Grata system protects water resources while generating natural fertilizer to use on the farm.

Lack of access to sanitation services can be a deterrent to women’s participation in meetings, training, and other events where important decisions are made, further isolating them from influencing development in their own communities. In most poor and remote regions, it is not unusual to travel for hours without a bathroom in sight. This is the gap that Tierra Grata sets out to fill.

The Role of Technology

Tierra Grata provides low-cost and easy-to-install bathrooms and ecotoilets that improve the quality of life for many people while taking care of the environment. Innovative solutions that serve environmental and social purposes empower communities to become more productive and spark development.

The team focuses on households headed by women or households where a large number of girls and women live. They seek to train them in using their technologies, as well as repairing and maintaining them, and to establish their role in the community. Women act as the main representation of Tierra Grata in communities.

Overcoming Obstacles

Despite the benefits that Tierra Grata brings to communities, they still face several obstacles in their development projects. The main challenge is the limited laws in Colombia that support their kind of work, and social enterprises are not always well understood.

However, in the last year, Tierra Grata has been awarded a series of recognitions. They received an award for Innovative Water and Sanitation Solutions, the Leadership in Action Award from a major media house in Colombia, EL ESPECTADOR, and obtained a United Nations Development Programme grant to implement their solutions.

The Future of Tierra Grata

Tierra Grata’s dream is to be the first social enterprise for rural public services in Latin America, providing innovative solutions to cover the neglected basic needs of those in remote regions. To achieve this, Colpas advises young entrepreneurs to dream big and start with small steps.

In conclusion, Tierra Grata’s waterless toilet systems offer innovative solutions to the water and sanitation problems faced by many communities in remote regions. By empowering women and providing eco-friendly systems, Tierra Grata is making a significant impact in improving the quality of life for people and protecting the environment.

Waterless toilets are revolutionizing the way we address water and sanitation issues in developing countries. With innovative technologies and community-driven solutions, social enterprises like Tierra Grata are making a significant impact in Colombia.

Jenifer Colpas, the 28-year-old Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Tierra Grata, has dedicated her life to addressing the need for basic energy, water, and sanitation services in Colombia. Her team of dedicated professionals train women in good water and sanitation practices and install low-cost bathrooms with ecological toilets that do not require water, saving an impressive 270,000 liters of water per year. This system protects water resources while generating natural fertilizer to use on the farm.

As Colpas notes, „Water and sanitation issues sit at the intersection of environmental and social concerns. Lacking water and sanitation solutions contribute to disease, stagnation and the pollution of natural waterways.“ By providing low-cost, sustainable solutions, Tierra Grata is contributing to the preservation of natural resources and the protection of vulnerable communities in Colombia.

Lack of access to sanitation services can also be a deterrent to women’s participation in meetings, training, and other events where important decisions are made, further isolating them from influencing development in their own communities. In most poor, remote regions, it is not unusual to travel for hours without a bathroom in sight. By providing these basic services, Tierra Grata is empowering women and improving their participation in decision-making processes.

Tierra Grata’s innovative technology not only improves the quality of life for many people but also takes care of the environment. As Colpas states, „It is important to promote innovative solutions that serve environmental as well as social purposes and that empower communities to become more productive and to spark development.“

Despite the challenges that social enterprises face, Tierra Grata has been recognized for its outstanding work. In the last year alone, the organization received an award for Innovative Water and Sanitation Solutions and was awarded the Leadership in Action Award from a major media house in Colombia, EL ESPECTADOR. Additionally, Tierra Grata obtained a United Nations Development Programme grant to implement their solutions.

For young entrepreneurs looking to start a business and fight for a sustainable future, Colpas advises, „Dream big. Even when you start with small actions, the key thing is just to start. Once the road is paved by small steps, then you can begin to structure your ideas better and work towards larger goals. The world is putting hope in young people, and it is our responsibility to unite and take action to leave a better planet for future generations.“

With a clear vision and unwavering determination, Tierra Grata aims to be the first social enterprise for rural public services in Latin America, providing innovative solutions to cover the neglected basic needs of those who need it the most. By taking small steps and dreaming big, Colpas and her team are making a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable communities in Colombia, and inspiring others to do the same.