Poor environmental sanitation is a predominant issue in today’s developing world. Tanzania is one of the countless countries lacking awareness regarding the significance of environmental cleanliness. One of the more crucial and impacting consequences of this lack of knowledge involves the unsafe and inappropriate disposal of solid waste, which has created considerable health problems and very unpleasant living conditions in countless countries. The waste generated in Tanzania as well as in other countries that do not have proper disposal means create unsanitary living conditions and detrimental health concerns, such as diarrhea and malnutrition, in addition to a range of sicknesses and diseases. Internationally, these problems triggered by improper sanitation efforts can be traced back to about 68% of all deaths for children under the age of five. Today, it is estimated that there about 2.6 billion people living in the developing world who have yet to gain access to proper sanitation means. Without it, their health and living conditions are crippled, hence affecting nearly every aspect of life. In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, merely 1800 of the 2600 tons of waste generated are collected. Garbage is piled up in open masses, posing health threats to children who play with and live near them. What is not collected is usually dumped on the near street. The uncontrolled garbage, roadsides plagued with waste streams blocked with trash, inappropriately disposed toxic wastes constitute a serious health hazard to residential areas. These polluting wastes offer breeding sites for insect-vectors, pests, snakes, and vermin that augment the likelihood of disease transmission. These are the wastes that children play with, that animals and villagers search for food in, which causes many to consume infected food. The effect of this further promotes the spread of diseases such as malaria and diarrhea. Each year, of the 16 million that are infected, 100,000 die from malaria alone in Tanzania, primarily the fault of improper waste management. Worldwide, 8% of children die of malaria each year, and 17% from diarrhea related infections, 88% of which is due to contaminated water sources. Even more alarming is that the sole number of children dying from diarrhea worldwide, coming to approximately 5000 deaths each day. Studies conducted demonstrate that many diseases rampant in Tanzania such as dysentery, diarrhea, scabies, skin diseases, eye problems, typhoid, cholera and intestinal parasites are primarily the cause of inappropriate waste disposal. In 2004, rural areas in Tanzania only had 49% access to improved drinking water sourced. With over 50% of the people susceptible to infections carried by water viruses, the results could be crippling for the health of Tanzania. In addition to the rotting smell in the streets and the dangers of parasites, the garbage piled in the streets also makes the environment more susceptible to air born infections as well as infections in the soil and water. The improperly discharged waste often ends up contaminating the water source in rural villages and even some urban areas. The result further contributes to questionable welfare of those who drink it. In 2004, 62% of the population had access to improved water sources in total. The for the rural population of Tanzania, only 49% are able to get clean water, meaning the other 51% is susceptible to disease and other perilous side effects. Yet another issue with the contaminated water is that it is also used to grow crops in many rural villages, which results in loss or improper growth of crops. This being the 50$ of Tanzania’s GDP crippling of crops means crippling of the entire economy. On a more global perspective, 70% of the industrial waste in developing countries is not properly disposed of. It creates similar living conditions, health concerns, and economic stress on the local economies. In some places, the improper waste disposal also negates a lot of tourism, which brings great revenue to many countries. For example, in 1999, tourism accounted for 16% of Tanzania’s GDP, a healthy portion to say the least. The reason for this is one of the main concerns with improper waste management, the high risk of infection ad disease. Overall, the implementation of proper waste management systems is critically essential to the growth of a community and even a nation. Improper waste management can affect a community in every aspect of life, including economic, social, and cultural. The unsanitary living conditions endured in various parts of Tanzania and all over the world can be prevented with the implementation of proper ways to dispose of waste in both rural and urban communities. Good health is indispensable to any community that aspires to grow. It means cleaner environment, a stronger working force, more tourism to help the economy, and longer life expectancy. The proper disposal of wastes would immeasurably aid a community economically, socially, and culturally. A community with good health and long life expectancy also gains a sense of pride and confidence in itself that contributes the strength of their cherished culture. Proper disposal of waste in Tanzania and countries all around the world is essential to the growth of its community. Improper waste disposal results in poor living conditions for children and adults. The indisposed of garbage ends up in piles on the street which produce breeding grounds for insects and vermin that could possibly be carrying fatal diseases. In addition, it heightens the risk of infections getting into the soil, weakening the earth where citizens grow their crops. That, in combination with contaminated water, stunts the growth of crops that many rely on as a source of living. The result is the weakening or bruising of the local economy. Contaminated water also becomes dangerous for children and adults to drink, as it carries diseases and infections that can cause malaria or diarrhea. These infections along with others also present in the air kill many Tanzanians and people world wide each year. Weak health in communities affects every aspect of life, including the society, the economy, and the culture. For these compelling reasons, proper disposal of industrial waste in both urban and rural areas is essential to the growth of a community, a society, and a nation, and must be achieved.

The principal aim of this project is to improve the welfare of Tanzania through health education and environmental sanitation. These goals will be accomplished by implementing a waste management system in each village in order to enhance the general health and hygiene of the inhabitants, by raising the villagers’ awareness as to how to dispose of their wastes, and by recruiting local participation and efforts to dispose of their wastes in a proper, appropriate manner. One of our primary focuses will be to advocate environmental sanitation by utilizing local participation in the implementation of our system, and by raising the villagers’ awareness concerning proper waste disposal and garbage collection. This increased awareness will further ensure long-term sanitation sustainability and proper hygiene. Another chief aim of the project is to provide employment opportunities in order to guarantee that the waste management systems are properly maintained and that the benefits that will emerge from the project are fully sustained. Steps that will be taken for this to be achieved are primarily to raise awareness of the proper methods concerning waste disposal and collection, and then progress into the training and organization of jobs. Recruiting local participation will provide occupational opportunities for those who are in dire need of a secure job. Villagers who wish to partake in this sort of occupation will be trained in taking responsibility of the waste management systems and making sure they are consistently upheld. Local engagement in the waste management systems will allow villagers to take control of their hygienic future and provide them with stable employment. This particular objective is a crucial aspect of the project, as it ensures long-term advancements in environmental sanitation, as opposed to ineffective, short-term benefits. By and large, this project has the capability of reducing diseases and pollution, achieving general and environmental health and improving hygiene conditions, which are severe consequences of the poor waste management systems and disposals in modern-day Tanzania, in addition to providing employment opportunities to the community. Aims: • Sustainable waste management systems in targeted areas including collection, transportation and disposal. • prevention of pollution and littering • educating locals on environmental sanitation and the need for a proper management of waste • involvement and participation of the Tanzania community • employment opportunities Anticipated Impacts of Tanzania Sanitation Project • Efficient waste disposal and collection system • A cleaner, healthier environment o Each year over 200 million tons of human waste and huge quantities of solid waste are uncollected and untreated around the world. This fouls the environment and exposes million of children to disease and squalor. Improved environmental sanitation leads to less environmental degradation, increased sustainability of environmental resources, and a safer atmosphere for children. o Substantial reduction of pollution. • Lower mortality rates o due to decreased rate of diarrhea and other diseases transmitted through wastes 88% of all diarrhoeal deaths are due to poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation Diarrhea: 2nd highest single cause of child mortality Ratio by which improved sanitation reduces diarrhea-related deaths: 2/3 • Awareness of the significance of proper sanitation • Long-term sanitation sustainability • Decreased rates in unemployment Throughout the past year, the members have been working tirelessly to establish our plan, spread awareness, raise money, work with waste management consultants and meet with significant contacts of Tanzania, one of them being the First Lady of Tanzania, Mama Salma Kikwete. With considerable assistance and effort, we have successfully devised a waste management strategy that could benefit the Tanzanian community in ways unimaginable. We had the pleasure of meeting Mama Selma Kikwete, First Lady of Tanzania, who was more than enthusiastic about the project. Equally remarkable was meeting Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations, Mr. Mahiga, who keenly offered unlimited assistance and contributions to the project. Furthermore, we were personally invited to Tanzania by the First Lady to perform our project. We plan on traveling there this August to execute our pilot project. We will collaborate with two Tanzanian environmental organizations: The Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers and The Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Organization, in addition to a high school in Tanzania. We have faced an extensive amount of praise and criticism and would like to say that although we are a group of purely high school students, we have a clear vision, and won’t stop until we achieve it. We look forward to collaborating with the inhabitants and students of Tanzania, to traveling to Tanzania this August to launch our endeavor, and to all the challenging, rewarding adventures that lie ahead.

The project was first introduced by Ms. Maria Kerins, Junior School Computer Teacher and Goodwill Ambassador of WAMA Tanzania. Her evident passion in aiding the Tanzanian community in addition to the rising waste management crisis in TAnzania inspired and sparked the interests of students into establishing a project of our own, called the Tanzania Sanitation Project. As the leader of the project, I assembled a group of several T2 students with a coherent mission to implement a proper and sustainable waste management system in the rural communities of Tanzania.

As of now, spreading awareness and donations of our cause are the primary methods of assistance.