After the success of the
stilted support structure, we spent the remainder of the 2 days constructing a
"hand crank" for the sanitation system. We predicted that this hand
crank device was not a feasible solution for the sanitation system because it
was expensive and it had more moving parts that can potentially break. Though
we specified this concern to the NGO, they wanted us to continue the prototype
and have a full documentation of its feasibility.
Construction was
difficult because there were many more components in this hand crank than in
the stilted support. First, we debated on how we should construct the hand
crank. Everyone suggested many good ideas. Ultimately, we decided to construct
the device from the center outward. Here are some pictures of the group working
together to construct the hand crank:
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Cutting
down the flat wooden planks to combine into bigger pieces.
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Putting
all the components together to see if the crank works.
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| Building
the inner part of the crank. |
The construction was
very labor intensive because there were many components that needed custom
fabrication. It took 2 full days to complete this prototype and there were many
setbacks because we didn't have the right materials. Despite the setbacks, we obtained
invaluable experience working with Hakley. Some of which include clever
construction methods and working with what you have.
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Pictures of clever
construction methods:
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| Using a wood piece and two nails to mark around the arc to enlarge the arc a few centimeters all across. |
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Painting the ends of each bolt to precisely mark the drill hole on the other circular plate.
The purpose of the hand
crank was meant to reel together the excess flexible tubing from the latrine
unit. Even though we tried our best to build the hand crank, it did not
turn/crank as well as we hoped. We were missing bearings to allow the hand
crank to turn smoothly. Later, we found out that each bearing cost around $8
USD and we needed at least 3 of them, which is a total of $24. This is $24 more
added to the original $50 crank. We documented and concluded that the hand
crank is indeed not feasible. It was difficult to construct, it needed further
adjustment to the reeling mechanism, and it is unnecessary expense added to the
whole system. This concluded our time in the floating village.
After heading back to
headquarter, we made a report documenting everything (prices, materials,
construction methods, future improvements, etc...) about the prototypes we
designed and constructed. The NGO was pleased with our results and thanked us
because this allowed them to continue forward with the better designs.
Four days of hard work
and many bug bites, this experience really bonded the team together. There were
times when we got hurt and fell sick. There were ups and downs because we would
get frustrated when things become difficult. Though this was a challenging
experience, we learned many invaluable life lessons. I for one, got to
experience what life was like as a Cambodian living in the floating villages. I
lived, ate, worked, and celebrated just like other locals in the floating
community. There were limited clean water, no hot baths, and constant bug
bites. This made me appreciate what I have back in the States. It may sound
horrible to live in the floating villages, but it was quite beautiful and there
were many fun things to do. On top of that, the community was very welcoming
and very peaceful. Everyone was always helping one another. I would recommend
this experience to anyone who is willing to explore the world. Just look at
this beautiful picture of the sunset and judge for yourself:
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Sunset in Phat Sanday floating village
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