Sustainability is closely related to  environmental stewardship. According Wikipedia  environmental  stewardship refers to  responsible  protection and use of the natural environment through  active participation in conservation effort  and sustainable practices  by individuals, small groups etc. In religion, it is  caring for something on behalf of God because the act of caring enriches our lives.   

In Permaculture, the principle of taking care of the land and people is  central to the systems approach to sustainable living.  My grandparents who lived off the land   believed in the saying that “ take care of the land and the land will  take care of you.” Is that not a  great saying from persons who lived by the land? That must be experiential.

Years ago, the environs of Hill House were pristine, clean and quiet.  But as more  people started  settling in the area  the dynamics are changing.  Disposal of waste, is becoming a big problem for most unplanned and underserved communities. Below is picture of the problem managing waste.  It is a big problem with its  dangers if not managed well. Hill House is beginning to experience the fall out of such problem of waste management from neighbours.

 Much as we at HH are enjoying   the pleasant environment we must  ensure that  our neighbours also live in clean environment. As an organisation which aims at touching positively   the lives of communities in which we operate, we would like to go beyond complaining about the problem.  We would be glad if  we could work together with the Achimota School  and the Municipal Assembly as well  other stakeholders to find more sustainable solution to the problem at that section of   Achimota School could work together with us to find a more sustainable solution to the problem of waste management . 

As part of our community outreach programme,  Hill House proposes a community sustainable sanitation community project at Achimota School.  It will serve as  a prototype for other communities to manage their waste sustainably. The project is one of our activities to mark the centenary Quakers in Ghana.  We believe the project will impact positively on that section of  school and other communities.  Improper disposal of waste is a problem  for most communities as in the picture below

The objectives of the proposed  waste recycling are as follows:  

– Improve sanitation in the community through waste management

– Create jobs for unemployed youths

– Serve as a model for other communities facing similar sanitation challenges.

The key components of the project  are composting

 biodegradable waste for gardening and vegetable production. It will involve sorting biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste for recycling at the community level.

 We have plans to build a Biogas Toilet to process household waste, reducing health and sanitation issues in the area.

The  biogas can be  used  for domestic fuel, replacing LPG

The project will among others enhance community sanitation,

create employment opportunities for youths and Provide a sustainable waste management model for other communities.

In discussions with a cross section of residents in the area,  the proposed project is a felt need of the people.

 

Kindly share with us your views  on the following:

Who is an environmental steward?

What are the major challenges environmental stewards face in  your locality?

How  can such major environmental challenges be addressed?

You may share with us  other issues not listed above.  

For contributions to the sustainable community  sanitation project kindly donate to []