b'In ActionThe awareness raising and capacity buildinglocal government or the state. For this reason, programme was implemented duringthese would act as knowledge centres or meetings, held not only to introduce andhubs; central to information management explain the WeWash strategy, but as anand skill dissemination. With the help of opportunity to discuss specific local needs,videos, developments were documented and allowing for community and stakeholderdisseminated to the villagers over the course of contribution, and coordination and synthesisthe WeWash programme, widely shared on the with existing processes and the accelerationinternet, through social media and webinars, of planned programmes, such as a drainageand in presentations and speeches at national system in Sulitsa, and the building of aand international events. community centre in Kalitinovo.Training programmes included the safe reuse Community project groups were established,of treated water and biological waste for and flexible work plans defined allowing fornatural agriculture, and the fundamentals future adaptation and flexibility, ensuringof soil fertility, including safety in handling, topics of importance could be responded tocomposting, and the safe reuse of biological as the project progressed. As an example,and plastic waste. Communities were educated in Hristiyanovo and Sulitsa concerns werein storm water and flood management, safe raised regarding the quality of drinkingdrinking water and sanitation, and how to water, subsequently addressed, together withbuild a model ecological sanitation system. agency, and effectiveness and capability whenChallenges included limited public transport liaising with institutions to solve issues such asfor attendees, and variable access to the microbiological pollution, and the persistentinternet. It was additionally important to build flooding of water sources. In Kalitinovo, drinkingtrust within the community, and respond water is permanently polluted with nitratesspecifically to the needs of local women, with and attention was therefore given to devisingmany inexperienced in a learning environment, treatment solutions, which were discussedor when dealing with local authorities and at length within the meetings. Managementdecision makers at municipal and regional of waste was a big topic in Hristiyanovo, withlevel. Training programmes were carefully concerns relating to the main water source,structured, with patience and repetition, and which was particularly close, just 500 metresset within a framework of learning-by-doing to away from an old dump site in Stara Zagora.achieve best results. Strong female role models Previous experience had shown EFF thatsupported women in training for traditionally community cultural centers and villagemale-dominated roles and intensive and well-schools were often prime candidates forplanned communication developed to increase ownership of infrastructure; sustainableunderstanding amongst villagers of the vital structures in regular receipt of finance fromrole of women as experts and leaders in water, sanitation and food security programmes. soroptimistinternational.org 14'